President's Trophy Boat Race

President's Trophy Boat Race
Annual event since 2011
Current champion Kattil Thekkethil
Course Ashtamudi Lake, Kollam Kerala
Trophy President's Trophy

The President's Trophy Boat Race (Malayalam: പ്രസിഡന്റ്'സ് ട്രോഫി വള്ളം കളി) is a popular Vallam Kali held on the Ashtamudi lake in Kollam on November 1 every year.The day marks the birth of the Indian state of Kerala known as Kerala Piravi.

This is the most popular of the races to be held during the season of the harvest festival Onam in Autumn on ashtamudi lake in Kollam,the cashew paradise in Kerala.

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.

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).[1] Runner up - Devas Chundan (Jesus Boat Club, Kollam).[2]

Her Excellency the Honorable President of India, Smt.Pratibha Devisingh Patil gave away the President's Trophy and cash prize of Rs. 10 lakh to the winners.

Trophies and prize money

The gold-plated trophy and rupees 10 lakhs cash award.

Winners

Year Winners Club Captain
2011 Sree Ganesh Chundan Saint Francis Boat Club K Arun Kumar
2012 Jawahar Thayankari Sangam Kannety
2013 KARICHAL Jesus Boat Club-Kollam
2014 Anary Kumarakam Town Boat Club
2015 Not Conducted
2016 Kattil Thekkethil

Patrons

Other notable boat races in Kerala

Other notable events in city

References

  1. ↑ http://www.presidentstrophy.gov.in/news.php
  2. ↑ http://www.presidentstrophy.gov.in/news.php
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