Kerala is known not only due to its spectacular beauty of nature, but also this God’s own land is known for its rich cultural heritage, art and adventure. The boat races of kerala are a main attraction related to the festival times of Kerala. Mainly the National Festival of Kerala, Onam is the main occasion that arranging these spectacle moments in front of the large number of people including tourists from all nook and corner of the world. Boat races or Vallam Kali is the important part of the tradition of folk arts from ancient time. The boat races Kerala is the symbol of social and cultural harmony among the people here and it also telling the stories of the adventurous and competitive spirit of the people.
The backwater locations like Kumarakom, Kollam, Alleppey etc in Kerala are stage for this native boat races. The winding stretches of backwater are finding the great excitement and a reflection of a vibrant people. The boat festival season begins with the centuries-old Champakulam boat race and which marks the beginning of a month of festivals. In the boat races, a boat is manned by four helmsmen, 25 singers and 100 - 125 oarsmen who row in unison to the fast rhythm of the vanchipattu. Vanchipattu is the song to energize the oarsmen and give an equal movement to the arms of oarsmen. These songs have devotional, mythological or rustic themes.
Snake boats are the special boats using for the races and has particular shape and architecture to help fast moving through the water. The stern of a vessel or the helm is called Amaram. The helmsman who steers the boat is the Amarakkaran. The curl at its stern (helm) represents the raised hood of a snake. The boat with a height from the water level at the rear, a width of six feet, a length of about 60-65 meters and the curl at the stern qualifies the boat to be called a snake boat, and its carrying capacity is hundred plus during the race time.
At the waterfront, there will be number of natives to cheer the huge black crafts as they cut their way through the waves to a spectacular finish.
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