Aranmula Boat Race

Event Date

Venue

Aranmula, Pathanamthitta district

The Aranmula Vallamkali held at Aranmula in Pathanamthitta district has a religious origin, though it is celebrated as a grand social event today. In olden days vegetables, cereal etc. required for the Thiruvonasadya (the onam feast) prepared as a ritual offering at the Aranmula Sree Parthasarathy Temple, were brought in a procession of snake boats. The vallom (boat) carrying these items was called Thiruvonachilavuthoni (literally the canoe that carries the food for Thiruvonam).

To commemorate this ritualistic journey, the famous Aranmula Uttrittathi Vallamkali - is conducted along the route traced centuries ago. Also known as Uthruttathi Vallamkali, this event pulls the maximum crowd on the fifth day, the uthruttathi asterism (the deity's birthday), of the Malayalam month Chingam.

The snake boats assemble near Sree Parthasarathy Temple before the grand procession. Each boat is about 100 feet long and accommodates about 4 helmsmen, 100 oarsmen and 25 singers. The snake boats move in pairs to the rhythm of full-throated singing and shouting, watched by an exciting crowd.

Getting there

Nearest major railway station: Chengannur, about 10 kms away.

Nearest airport: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about 130 km to the south from Chengannur