All about Vallam Kali: their History, the Onam Competitions, and their Cultural Importance.

September 02, 2024

Vallam kali, translating to boat game, is a traditional boat race in Kerala that is mainly conducted during Onam, the harvest festival in September. Hundreds of these races are hosted across Kerala during this season featuring various boat types – but the most iconic and famous races are those featuring the Chundan Vallams or Snake Boats, owing to their shapes that make them look like snakes flaring their hoods.

These boats can be as long as 30 meters, accommodating over 150 rowers! An annual occurrence, Vallam Kali sees the backwaters of Kerala reverberating with energy as rowmen row and crowds cheers, making it a distinctive and iconic festivity of the Onam season – one might even say the water sport Olympics of Kerala!

If you are interested in learning more about the sport, the history of the boats, and the culture surrounding it, this blog is for you! Read on ahead!

The History behind Vallams

The famous design and look of the boats are rumored to have been created by a renowned carpenter. It was intended to be a war boat to be used during the war between the Kayamkulam and Chembakassery kingdoms in the 13th century.

Vallam Architecture

These boats range from 30 to 42 meters in length. The rear section rises approximately 6 meters high, while their long front tapers towards the end, giving them a striking likeness to snakes with their hoods raised. Their meticulously constructed hulls are exactly 25 meters long and six inches wide.

Traditions and Customs Surrounding Vallams

Traditionally, each boat is revered as its own deity and is owned by one village. Out of respect to the divinity of these boats, men must be barefoot and dressed only in loincloth while stepping foot in or handling the boats.

A boat will be commanded by a village leader (kaarnavan or karanaadhan) and under him there will be three main paddlers who control the movement of the boat with a 3.7 meter main rudder-oar. Sitting two to a row along the boat’s length, there will be 64 paddlers, or, on occasion, 128 paddlers. They row to the rhythms of vanchipattu (boatsong), sung by around 25 singers sat between the paddlers; the vanchipattu is led by a cantor, who stands on the second half of the boat.

Capacity and Usage of Vallams

To make the boat more slippery in water and reduce water absorption, a mixture of fish oil, coconut shell ash, and eggs is applied to the hull. Annual repairs are carried out by the village carpenter.

Vanchipattu

The word Vanchippattu is a combination of the words vanchi and pattu, translating to boat-song; it is written in Malayalam and composed in the Dravidian metre, Nathonnata. It is debated whether meter was created to match the rhythm of the boats or if the boats were initially rowed to the rhythm of the poems.

It was the great poet, Ramapurathu Warrier who created this poetic form, during the reign of the king Marthanda Varma. It is believed to have been created by Warrier on journey by boat alongside King Varma, where he recited the poem to him.

These songs are recited alongside rowing by the participants and the audience, energizing their performance and harmonizing people into a collective whole.

Vallam Kali Competitions

The Nehru Trophy Boat Race

Of the hundreds of boat races happening in Kerala, the most famous one is the Nehru Trophy Boat Race. This event features huge snake boats, small rafts, and everything in between - for the duration of this event, the backwaters lose their serenity as the boats dart towards the finish line! This spectacle of an event has now become an integral part of Kerala’s tourism itinerary and is visited by people from all over the State, country, and the world.

It is named after the ex-Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, as he was the one to inaugurate the event in 1952. In 2019, a Champions Boat League was constituted to make it the race more organized – with Sports Star Network as its broadcasting partner.

Aranmula Boat Race

The oldest river boat festival in the state, The Aranmula Boat festival takes place at Aranmula in the Pathanamthitta district. While initially the festival only showcased boats, snake boat races were added in 1972 to the program.

Over fifty snake-boats are featured each year and thousands gather to cheer on the row-men on the banks of the river Pampa!

The Cultural Influence of Vallam Kali

The cultural impact of Vallam Kali extends beyond the race itself. It is a time when ancient traditions are kept alive through rituals and ceremonies, such as the preparation of the boats and the selection of rowers. The boats are revered, and rituals are performed to invoke blessings for a successful race, blending spirituality with athleticism.

Moreover, Vallam Kali has a significant socio-economic impact, drawing tourists from across the globe. The event showcases Kerala's rich cultural heritage, generating revenue and providing a boost to the local economy. The races also highlight the craftsmanship involved in boat-making, preserving traditional skills that have been passed down through generations.

Vallam Kali is so ubiquitous with the festival of Onam, that even Malayalis abroad are inculcating it into their Onam celebrations. Subscribing to this trend, the New York Malayali Heritage Foundation has organized for a snake boat race, in the lake near Cow Meadow Park on September 15, the Thiruvonam day, alongside other festivities which would be conducted on the park lawn. Some of the planned festivities include vadamvali (tug of war), chendamelam (traditional percussion), Onasadhya, pulikali, and pookkalams (floral carpets).

Conclusion

Seeing the Vallam Kali competitions live is a splendid reason for you to come visit Kerala during Onam season. You can join in on cheering the different snake boats racing through the State’s many backwaters; perhaps even partake in the delicious Onam Sadhya and other festivities while in the area. You can find many luxurious accommodations around Kerala with cozy facilities that you can use as a base to explore all the attractions and event that Onam season has to offer!