Punnamada Lake near Alleppey is host to the spectacular snake boat races that are annually held on the second Saturday of August. This competition is named Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race after India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
The story goes that when Nehru saw his first boat race, he got so into the competition that he jumped exact into the boat that won the race, so the event was named after him. Each and every 50 meter long wooden snake boat that is in the race is manned by over a hundred oarsmen. The power of the men rowing & cheer leaders motivating the oarsmen on each boat is a sight to see.
The event traditionally commemorates the carrying of idols to their abodes to the state’s magnificent temples. The trophy is a silver snake boat mounted on a wooden pedestal.
Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race
