The President's Trophy Boat Race is a popular
boat race
The Boat Race is an annual set of rowing races between the Cambridge University Boat Club and the Oxford University Boat Club, traditionally rowed between open-weight eights on the River Thames in London, England. It is also known as the Uni ...
held on the
Ashtamudi lake
Ashtamudi Lake (''Ashtamudi Kayal, ml: "അഷ്ടമുടിക്കായൽ" ''), in the Kollam District of the Indian state of Kerala is a unique wetland ecosystem and a large palm-shaped (also described as octopus-shaped) water body. ...
in
Kollam city on 1 November every year.
The day marks the birth of the Indian state of
Kerala
Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, 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 ...
, known as
Kerala Piravi. This is the most popular of the races to be held during the season of the harvest festival,
Onam
Onam () is an annual harvest and Hindus, Hindu cultural festival celebrated mostly by the people of Kerala. A major annual event for Malayalis, Keralites, it is the official festival of the state and includes a spectrum of cultural events.
H ...
, in Autumn on
Ashtamudi Lake
Ashtamudi Lake (''Ashtamudi Kayal, ml: "അഷ്ടമുടിക്കായൽ" ''), in the Kollam District of the Indian state of Kerala is a unique wetland ecosystem and a large palm-shaped (also described as octopus-shaped) water body. ...
in
Kollam
Kollam (;), is an ancient seaport and the List of cities and towns in Kerala, fourth largest city in the Indian state of Kerala. Located on the southern tip of the Malabar Coast of the Arabian Sea, the city is on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake ...
. 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
The Government of Kerala (abbreviated as GoK), also known as the Kerala Government, is the administrative body responsible for governing the Indian States and territories of India, state of Kerala. The government is led by a chief minister, who ...
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
*
Aranmula Uthrattadi Vallamkali
*
Kumarakom Boat Race
*
Kallada Boat Race
Other notable events in city
*
Kollam pooram
*
Kollam Beach
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