Nehru Trophy:Kerala’s snake boat race on as flood-hit communities keep centuries-old tradition alive

ALAPPUZHA : The 72nd Nehru Trophy Boat Race is scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 22, at Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha. The roughly 100-foot-long Chundan Vallams, known as snake boats for their long, slender shape and raised sterns, will race along the 1.4-km course as thousands of spectators watch from the banks and houseboats.

The spectacle is driven by extraordinary coordination, with hundreds of oars striking the water in unison more than 90 times a minute. Traditional chants, whistles and the pounding of wooden poles on the decks add to the intensity of one of Kerala’s most celebrated sporting events.

This year’s race, however, comes against the backdrop of severe monsoon flooding. Alappuzha, historically known as Kerala’s rice bowl because of its vast paddy fields, contains some of India’s lowest-lying areas and remains highly vulnerable to flooding.

Communities in and around Kainakary were among those affected, with roads becoming inaccessible and homes and churches surrounded by floodwaters. Despite the disruption, rowers from the United Boat Club (UBC) continued their demanding practice sessions, sometimes training twice a day.

Leading them is veteran captain Vakkachan Theverkkat, a former senior oarsman whose family has deep ties to snake boat racing. UBC has competed for the Nehru Trophy since 1963 and has won the prestigious title 12 times.

UBC will be aiming for a 13th title aboard Veeyapuram, the community-owned snake boat nicknamed “Vicious Veeru”. The vessel won the 2025 Nehru Trophy while being rowed by Village Boat Club, which crossed the finish line in 4 minutes and 21.084 seconds.

Built in 2019 after hundreds of villagers raised around ₹9 million, Veeyapuram reflects the enormous community investment required to sustain the tradition. Keeping a competitive snake boat running for a season can cost close to ₹7 million, while sponsorship and prize money recover only a portion of those expenses.

Yet the communities behind the boats remain determined to preserve the sport.

“As long as we're here, we'll keep this boat running,” Veeyapuram ownership group secretary Kamarudeen KA said, describing the vessel as a source of recognition, identity and pride for the village.

Snake boats trace their origins to battle canoes developed around the 13th century, but over generations they have evolved into powerful symbols of Kerala’s communal harmony. On Veeyapuram, an Islamic prayer cloth, a Hindu flower garland and a Christian cross hang together, while priests representing the three faiths have blessed the vessel.

Traditional race songs similarly draw on Hindu, Christian and Islamic traditions, turning the competition into a celebration that crosses religious and caste divisions.

For the communities of Kerala’s backwaters, the vessels are more than racing boats. Some remain in competition for decades, and when a snake boat is finally retired, it is traditionally cremated and ceremonies are held to symbolically transfer its spirit to a new vessel.