 Snake Boat Race' | |
| First played | 1952 |
|---|---|
| Characteristics | |
| Team members | 64 or 128 paddlers aboard per side |
| Type | Vallam Kali |
| Equipment | Snake boat, Iruttukuthy Boat, Veppu Boat, Thekkanodi Boat |
| Venue | Punnamada Lake |
| Presence | |
| Country or region | India |
The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is an annual vallam kali held in the Punnamada Lake near Alappuzha, Kerala, India. Vallam Kali or Vallamkaliy literally means boat play/game, but can be translated to boat race in English. The most popular event of the race is the competition of Chundan Vallams (snake boats). Hence the race is also known as Snake Boat Race in English. Other categories of boats which participate in various events of the race are Churulan Vallam, Iruttukuthy Vallam, Odi Vallam, Veppu Vallam (Vaipu Vallam), Vadakkanody Vallam and Kochu Vallam.