Jawaharlal Nehru’s connection to Kerala’s famous snake boat races

They glide swiftly through the murky backwaters of Alappuzha, resembling the movement of snakes. This is why the traditional country boats that ply the region's waters are called snake boats.

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Snake boats are believed to have first appeared in the backwaters of Alappuzha in the 14th century on the orders of King Devanarayana of Chembakassery. These boats, which were 100 to 120 feet long, were used to transport people and war implements. They were built using a local wood called Anjili, which is known for its durability as the main objective was to carry the maximum weight.

The Nehru connection

Although the snake boat races in Alappuzha have now become annual events that attract fans from all over the world, the competitions and the excitement that comes with them are a recent development, dating back to the time of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

In 1952, Nehru visited Kerala and travelled between Kottayam and Alappuzha on an ornate snake boat. He was impressed by the warm welcome he received from the locals in Alappuzha. In honour of his visit, a friendly snake boat competition was organised in the nearby backwaters.

On his return to Delhi, Nehru awarded the winners of the race a silver trophy, which became known as the Prime Minister's Trophy. From the following year, the Prime Minister's Trophy boat race became an annual event, attracting participants from Kerala and other countries.

After Nehru's death, the event was renamed the Nehru Trophy Boat Race, marking the beginning of the tourism season in Kerala. The Nehru Trophy Race is held every year in Alappuzha. Both foreign and domestic tourists flock to this unique sporting event to experience the excitement.

Other popular snake boat races in the area include Champions Snake Boat League, Champakulam Moolam Boat Race, Payippad Jalotsavam and Aranmula Uthrattadi Vallamkali.

The 2024 races are suspended

The boats are typically between 100 and 138 feet long, with the rear section about 20 feet high and the front section long and tapered.

Boating clubs in Alappuzha, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta usually start preparing for competitions in July and spend an average of ₹80 lakh for boat preparation and intensive training.

But this year, their plans were thwarted. On August 1, shortly after devastating landslides hit Wayanad, the state government cancelled the 70th Nehru Trophy Boat Race and the entire Champions Boat League, a decision that wiped out weeks of preparation, expenses and hopes of the participating clubs.

A joint meeting of the Snakeboat Owners Association, the Kerala Boat Club Association and the Kerala Race Boat Owners Association was held in Alappuzha earlier this week to discuss the situation.

During the meeting, these associations called on the government to postpone the race to September and reconsider its decision to cancel the league.

The meeting proposed that the Nehru Trophy be shifted from the second Saturday in August to the second Saturday in September from next year as the risk of bad weather increases in August.

“In view of the Wayanad tragedy, we initially supported the government's decision to postpone the races. However, we are now demanding that the government announce a new schedule for the events. We plan to meet Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan soon. If the government does not meet our demands, we will organise a separate boat race on Punnamada Lake in October,” said a member of a boat club who attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, a tourism department official said that the decision to suspend the races this year was taken in view of the serious human tragedy in Wayanad and that there are currently no plans to reverse the decision.

According to K. Mithun, president of the Kumarakom Town Boat Club and a leading player, if the races were not held, the financial burden on the clubs would be great; for example, the Kumarakom Club has already ₹58 lakh for training and preparation.

Usually, participating clubs repay the loans through cash prizes, payments from the tourism authority after the races have finished and voluntary donations from their fans. They also expect sponsorship from companies.

Last year's event saw 81 boats take part, including 25 snake boats and 56 small boats. This year, clubs were hoping to rebound from losses caused by the massive floods of 2018 and the pandemic that followed.