The President's Trophy Boat Race ( ml, പ്രസിഡന്റ്'സ് ട്രോഫി വള്ളം കളി) is a popular
boat race
Boat racing is a sport in which boats, or other types of watercraft, race on water. Boat racing powered by oars is recorded as having occurred in ancient Egypt, and it is likely that people have engaged in races involving boats and other w ...
held on the
Ashtamudi lake
Ashtamudi Lake (''Ashtamudi Kayal''), in the Kollam District of the Indian state of Kerala, is the most visited backwater and lake in the state. It possesses a unique wetland ecosystem and a large palm-shaped (also described as octopus-shaped) ...
in
Kollam city on 1 November every year.
The day marks the birth of the Indian state of
Kerala
Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South Ca ...
, known as
Kerala Piravi
Kerala Day also referred to as Kerala Piravi, marks the birth of the state of Kerala in southern India. The state of Kerala was created on 1 November 1956, long after the Independence of India. Before this, it was three major provinces and seve ...
. This is the most popular of the races to be held during the season of the harvest festival,
Onam
Onam ( ) is an annual Indian harvest festival celebrated predominantly by the Hindus of Kerala. A major annual event for Keralites, it is the official festival of the state and includes a spectrum of cultural events.
Onam commemorates Vamana ...
, in Autumn on
Ashtamudi Lake
Ashtamudi Lake (''Ashtamudi Kayal''), in the Kollam District of the Indian state of Kerala, is the most visited backwater and lake in the state. It possesses a unique wetland ecosystem and a large palm-shaped (also described as octopus-shaped) ...
in
Kollam
Kollam (), also known by its former name Quilon , is an ancient seaport and city on the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea, which is a part of the Arabian Sea. It is north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. The city ...
. There would be races in five categories, namely ''Chundan Vallam'' (snake-boats), two grades of ''Veppu Vallam'', and two grades of ''Iruttukuthi Vallam''. Sixteen snake-boats would compete in four heats. The trophy had been instituted in the name of the President of India. President of India will be present to witness the race and would also give away the trophy and cash prize to the winning team. The race will become a part of Kerala's
IPL-model boat race league from 2019 onward. The
Government of Kerala
Government of Kerala is the subnational government of the Indian state of Kerala. The government is led by a chief minister, who selects all the other ministers. The chief minister and their most senior ministers belong to the supreme decisio ...
is planning to make President's Trophy Boat Race as the finishing event of Champions’ Boat League.
About the event
Kollam is a miniature of Kerala in all its pomp and pride in tourism map. The Ashtamudi Lake – beautiful calm water spread with enchanting greenery on the blanks. It is also gifted with unique representative features - sea, lakes plains, monuments, rivers, streams, backwaters, forest, and vast green fields.
The venue is at Gateway of Ashtamudi. The race will start from the water column near Thevally Palace and finishing point will be front of the house boat terminal.
The water body having 1250 m long in between these two points is scheduled as the Track for the race.
As the oarsmen throw their oars in unison to the fast paced rhythm of the vanchipattu (Song of the Boatmen), the huge black crafts slice through pristine race course of Ashtamudi Lake to a spectacular finish. Hundreds of spectators, including tourists from abroad, thronging the lake front, erupts out of joy.
Boat race is telecasted live in DD National and DD Malayalam.
Champions - first edition
Winners of the first edition of President's Trophy Boat Race - Sree Ganeshan Chundan(St. Francis Boat Club, Kollam).
Runner up - Devas Chundan (Jesus Boat Club, Kollam).
Her Excellency the Honorable President of India, Smt.Pratibha Devisingh Patil inaugurated first edition of President's Trophy boat race.
Trophies and prize money
The gold-plated trophy and rupees 10 lakhs cash award.
Winners
Patrons
* Chief Patron: Hon. Chief Minister of Kerala
* Chairman: District Collector of Kollam
* General Convener: District Magistrate of Kollam
* Mayor, Corporation of Kollam
Other notable boat races in Kerala
*
Nehru Trophy Boat Race
The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is an annual '' vallam kali'' held in the Punnamada Lake near Alappuzha, Kerala, India. ''Vallam Kali'' or ''Vallamkali''y literally means boat play/game, but can be translated to boat race in English. The most popul ...
*
Aranmula Uthrattadi Vallamkali
*
Kumarakom Boat Race
The Sree Narayana Jayanthi Vallam Kali or Boat Race, at Kumarakom, Kerala is held in September every year during Onam festival. More than 1,000 oarsmen in boats of different sizes and shapes participate. Even though snake boats participate in th ...
*
Kallada Boat Race
Other notable events in city
*
Kollam pooram
Kollam Pooram (Malayalam : കൊല്ലം പൂരം) is a festival held each April in Kollam City in the Indian state of Kerala. The festival attracts large number of people from all parts of the state and is organised in connection with ...
*
Kollam Beach
Kollam Beach, also known as Mahatma Gandhi Beach, is a beach at Kollam city in the Indian state of Kerala. Kollam Beach is the first 'Beach Wedding Destination' in Kerala.
The beach also features a park of international standard, the Mahat ...
References
The Hindu News Paper KOLLAM, 10 August 2011The Hindu News Paper KOLLAM, 9 August 2011The Hindu News Paper KOLLAM, 17 July 2011* http://www.keralatourism.org/gothuruth-boat-race.php
External links
Official President's Trophy Boat Race Website
{{Tourism in Kerala
Culture of Kollam
Boat races in Kerala
Festivals in Kollam district
Sport in Kollam
2011 establishments in Kerala
Recurring sporting events established in 2011