Samiti roots for boat race

Criticises Mar Thoma Metropolitan’s stance

The Palliyoda Pallivilakku Samrakshana Samiti (PPSS) has called upon the Palliyoda Seva Sanghom (PSS) to review its executive committee’s decision not to conduct the boat race as part of the Uthrittathi snakeboat regatta in the Pampa at Aranmula on September 20.

In a statement here on Thursday, PPSS general convener P. Induchoodan said the PSS general body was the sole custodian of the palliyodams (snakeboats are known by this name in this part of the State) and hence such a crucial decision taken without its consent could never be justified. The sanghom (apex body of various palliyoda karayogams) should not have cancelled the boat race at a time when the karayogams (local units) have made elaborate preparations for the annual boat race, an integral part of the regatta. He appealed to the PSS not to kneel down before the alleged effrontery of a few political leaders who had aligned with certain corporate bodies having vested interests in the heritage village of Aranmula.

The PPSS leader lauded the Nair Service Society’s stance that the government and people’s representatives had failed to address the concerns of the people of Aranmula over the controversial private airport project there.

Mr. Induchoodan took exception to the Mar Thoma Metropolitan’s reported statement criticising the PPS general body’s decision not to invite the local MLA and MP as guests at the regatta. The Metropolitan, he said, had even compared the heritage village of Aranmula with the Ponthanapuzha forests and a marshy wasteland. The high priest should remember that the PSS has never tried to intervene in the affairs of the Mar Thoma Church, which organises the Maramon Convention. The Church should respect the decision taken by the PSS general body.

He said the Aranmula regatta could never be treated as mere a water carnival or a tourism event. It has got strong ritualistic moorings rooted in the custom and tradition of the centuries-old Sree Parthasarathy temple at Aranmula.

The PPSS leader called upon the government and the PSS to take effective steps without any further delay to organise the event, including both the boat race and the pageantry as in previous years.