PARTICIPATING BOATS

water sports like boating ,yacking ,cannouwing,kayakking etc are prevalent in most parts of the world but the boat races held at the backwaters of kerala are unique in their magnitude and splendour.

Boats like Chundan ( Snake Boat ) Oadi , Veppu , etc are glowing examples of traditional kealite wood works. Chundan boats preciously used by the local chieftains as was ships have a history of their own.

The following are some of the information regarding the Snake Boats and the Rowers Clubs engaged in the boat race.

1)Champakulam Chundan

About a hundred years back two islets ( Amichakary and Nadubhagam) in the backwaters of Kuttanad jointly constructed this boat and was used by each islet in alternate years. But people of Nadubhagam longed for a boat entirely their own and they realised their wish by purchasing one boat from Vempala and they renamed it as Nadubhagam Chundan. While local people of amichakary rebuilt their boat in 1974 extending its length to 51.5 Koal length and 52 angulam by breadth. This boat is owned by 251 share holders and has won trophies in several years( 1975,76,77 )etc

2)Kandankary Chundan

The Kandankary people owned a snake boat since 1910 as per old records. The present boat Kandankary Chundan is owned by Nair Service Society , which is 42.5 koal long and 56 angulam by breadth.

3)Anaari Puthan Chundan

People of Anaari owned a snake boat since 1905 , as the old boat got aged , they built a new boat ( puthan = new ) 42.5 koal long and 56 angulam by breadth. This boat is jointly owned by 110 stake holders and has won several trophies in its long history.

4)Vellamkulangara Chundan

Formerly known as Napoleon Chundan . The boat race committee of Vellamkulangara purchased a boat from Sri Pooppally Cherian P Varghese. This boat is 54.25 koal long and 50 angulam by breadth. Is owned by 136 stake holders and was rebuilt and launched in july 1981.

5)St. George Chundan(Changamkary Chundan)

This boat was built by Sri Pappu Achari in 1957. it is 42.5 koal long and 50 angulam by breadth. It has won the Nehru Trophy in 1964 and came first in 1980 in a boat race held at ernakulam. This boat was rebuilt in 1980 in a size 53.5 koal long and 50 angulam by breadth.

6)Cheruthana Chundan

local leaders of Cheruthana area purchased this boat from Maramon about 100 years back . In 1971 the boat was rebuilt and got extended to a size of 51.25 koal long and 50 angulam by breadth. Under the leadership of Sri N Narayanan Achari. This boat has a history of winning several trophies for its credit.

7)Payippadu Chundan

The present boat Payippad Chundan was built on 1969 ( 51.25 koal by length and 50 angulam by breadth) the construction was done by a team lead by young Narayanan Achari . This boat is a winner of several trophies.

8)Valiya Divanji Chundan ( Ayaparambu Chundan)

Constructed in 1928 at Nedumudi , later purchased by people of Ayaparambu area. It has won Nehru Trophy in 1979. the boat was rebuilt in 1979 to a size 51.25 koal long and 50 angulam by breadth. By a team lead by Sri Prabhakaran Achari. This boat is owned by the local Nair Service Society.

9)Karuvatta Chundan

upto 1978 this boat was known by name Patcha Chundan at Kuttanad. It is 43.75 koal long and 52 angulam by breadth.

10)Pulinkunnu Chundan

Pulinkunnu is a land famous for its water sports. The Choolakkodan Chundan of Pulinkunnu was well known since 75 years later one individual built another boat Mathukutty Chundan. Later both these boats were sold to Aranmula.in 1965 local people of Pulinkunnu took a lot of pains and constructed the present Pulinkunnu Puthan Chundan. (Means new chundan of Pulinkunnu) in 1965. it has won Nehru Trophy in 1966, 67 and 69. and shared the trophy with Kalooparamban Chundan in 1971.

11)Karichal Chundan

According to the history , people of Karichal area owned a snake boat more than one hundred and 20 years , this new boat was launched in 1970 . it is 51.25 koal long and 50 angulam by breadth.it was constructed by a team lead by Koyickal Mukku Narayanan Achari and has won Nehru Trophy in 1974,75,76 and 80.

12)Parthasarathy Chundan

This boat was constructed by a team lead by Thottuvathala Govindan Achari in 20th January 1930. it is owned by Nair Service Society and won Nehru Trophy in 1955.
13)Kalooparamban Chundan.

This boat is owned by Mr Halley Mathew who is an ardent boat race enthusiast. This boat was later rebuilt by Narayanan Achari. It has won Nehru Trophy in 1970,72 and 73.

14)Kavalam Chundan

formerly known as Kainakary Puthan Chundan. It has later purchased by Mr Kochupurackal Ouseph Thomman in 1942. On 1943 it was rebuilt and named Kavalam Chundan , after the expiry of Ouseph Thomman , his son Mr Thomman Joseph took the ownership , this boat has won Nehru Trophy on several occassions .1949,50,58,60,62 etc.

15)Jawahar Thayankary

Thayankary is a small village in Kuttanad which has always cherished the spirit of boat races. This boat is the common property of the people of that village. The Jawahar boat club was found in 1963. And purchased a Chundan Geargoss owned by Mr I C Chacko and renamed it as Jawahar Thayankary. The boat was rebuilt on 1970. but the people longed for a new boat itself and they constructed the present boat 51.25 koal length and 50 angulam by breadth. With the help of a team lead by Vannathil Narayanan Achari. This boat has won Nehru Trophy in 1977 an 78

16)Nadubhagam Chundan

In 1927 the Diwan of Travancore announced his intention to witness the boat race held at Champakulam.The spirit of the people of Nadubhagam ( a village at the western bank of champakulam river) to take part in the race with their own boat was aroused. They purchased a boat from Aranmula and renamed it Nadubhagam Chundan and reached first in that race. The people were so thrilled to accept the trophy from the Diwan of Travancore. In 1952 , this boat was lucky enough to accept the Nehru Trophy from Mr Pandit Nehru himself.Mr Pandit Nehru along with his daughter Indira Gandhi was so thrilled that he jumped into this boat . This incident is still cherised by the people of kerala. Later this boat had been rebuilt and modified 4 times at present it is 52.25 koal long and 51 angulam by breadth.