Nehru Trophy Boat Race

Nehru Trophy Boat Race
The Nehru Trophy Boat Race, the most colorful water sport in Kerala, is conducted at Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha on the second Saturday of every August. This prestigious cultural event of Kerala, which has been attending people from all over the world. Nehru Trophy Boat Race is a festival for the people of Alappuzha. Though it is a festival, the attraction about this is the sportive sprits among the participants of the race. Several Boat races are taking place in several parts of Kuttanad and other parts of Alappuzha. But today despite all the other water festivals and functions this particular event has gained popularity and attraction for many people.

This trophy was named as Nehru Trophy was awarded to the winners of the boat race, which is a unique feature of community life and is gift to the people of Alappuzha.

This aquatic festival fosters a sense of unity and fraternity and sports man spirit event and attaching foreign tourists also.

In the year 1952, Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru visited the erstwhile Travancore - Cochin. On his way to Alappuzha from Kottayam the people of Alappuzha, escorted by the huge snake-boats, gave him a roaring reception. Having gone through the tremendous excitement of sailing in a snake-boat popularly known as Chundan, Jawaharlal Nehru donated a rolling trophy to be awarded to the winner. The trophy is a replica of a snake-boat in silver, placed on wooden abacus on which the following words of Punditji are inscribed above his signature. "To the winner of the boat-race which is a unique feature of community life in Travancore-Cochin". This trophy was later christened, 'Nehru Trophy'. The first race was an ‘impromptu’ one held in the honour of Panditji. During that period occasion Ten Snake boats were present and Nedubhagam Chundan won the race. In 1953 the boat race was not conducted. In order to commemorate the occasion every year "Nehru Trophy Boat Race" is conducted in all respect by the Nehru Trophy Boat Race Society.

Many different kinds of country-boats like Iruttukuthy, Veppu and Churulan also participate in the race; women and students also compete in the events over a distance of 4850 ft. The beautiful scenery of the race area together with the exciting snake-boat race, will ever remain a cherished memory for the onlookers.

Alappuzha, the land of lakes, lagoons and watercourses, have had a prestigious and prosperous past. That is the reason why it earned the sobriquet, the Venice of the East. It signifies that Alappuzha was a very alert and lively center of trade and commerce.

Nehru Trophy Boat Race, the renowned aquatic spectacle that manifests a rosy sprout of tourism, if nourished and nurtured in proper perspective, will give a sure and steady boost to the growth of tourism in Alappuzha.

Nehru Trophy Boat Race, the prestigious cultural event of Kerala, which has been attracting peoples all over the world for more than four decades, now, is a unique aquatic fete. Against the Sylvan backdrop of Kerala landscape, this aquatic festival fosters a sense of unity and fraternity and sportsman spirit among the hundreds of participants as well as the thousands of spectators.

The presence of high dignitaries and distinguished personalities has enhanced the fame of the NTBR over the world. This prestigious water carnival is going to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2002.In fact Nehru Trophy Boat Race has enabled Alappuzha to achieve prominance in the World Tourism Map.