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Aranmula Boat Race or Aranmula Vallomkali is held during the Onam festival during the months August / September. It is held from the river Pamba in Aranmula in Pathanamthitta district. It is from near the famous Hindu temple Aranmula Parthasarathy temple that this boat race is conducted.
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 boat race and festivals conducted here is considered as part of religious beliefs and are not as competition. As part of the temple festivals there are mainly 3 events where the Palliyodams take part. They are on Thiruvonam, Uthrattathi and Ashtami Rohini Vallasadya.
On Thiruvonam, special boat called Thiruvonathoni will start from Kattoor in the previous day evening at 6 pm and it reaches the Aranmula temple by 4 am on Thiruvonam day. This boat has all the required items for a meal and a burning lamp in it. This Thiruvonathoni is welcomed by thousands of devotees near Aranamula and they float lighted lamps in the river. The Thiruvonathoni is accompanied by the Palliyodams.
Another festival conducted is the Ashtami Rohini Vallasadya which is the serving of feast to the oarsmen of the boats from the Aranmula temple. There will be a parade of the snake boats before the feast. The devotees are also served feast during vallasadya.
History of the Aranmula Boat Race in Kerala
According to legend, a devotee was once carrying offerings for Lord Krishna. Unfortunately his boat was looted. This broke his heart and in order to give him consolation, God himself appeared before him. He was advised to make larger boats so that they could be rowed by several men and could easily make its way through the water. This is how the snake boats originated. The people of Aranmula even believe that on the day of the race the boat possesses and shares some of the attributes of God.
Kerala, the “God’s Own Country” is a land of colours! Be it the nature’s ‘green’ shade romancing the ’emerald’ backwaters, the ‘golden’ rays of the sun caressing the clear ‘white’ sands, or the ‘azure’ sky calling for the mystical ‘hues’, Kerala showcases all the colours of Mother Nature! Well, if you want to explore all these shades and colours of the nature, you must your Kerala trip during any of the fairs and festivals in Kerala! It is during the fairs and festivals; the entire of the state unites together, removes all the religious and communal barriers, to celebrate every moment with full vigour and enthusiasm. No matter what background they are from, the way these locals celebrate the fairs and festivals in Kerala, it simply creates an everlasting memory in the minds of everyone!
