Nehru
Trophy Boat Race, the annual water carnival at Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha
is considered as the biggest snake boat race in the world. The colourful
boat pageantry, which precedes the boat race, is a marvelous treat to the
onlookers. The snake boats with 100 to 120 oarsmen plough the waters to the
tune of the legendary songs. Jawaharlal Nehru who was enthralled by the
charm and gaiety of the water carnival instituted the Nehru Trophy. This
boat race attracts a large number of tourists.Nehru Trophy Boat Race is the most famous of the boat races of Kerala. This annual regatta is held on the Punnamada Backwaters of Alappuzha district on the second Saturday of August.
The event is a commemoration of the visit to this place by the late Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, in 1952.
The spectacular races features magnificent snake boats or 'Chundans'. The boisterous and rhythmic boat songs or Vanchipattu work the spectators to a state of frenzy.