BRAMPTON, Ontario — Boat races are among the grandest traditions still alive and thriving in Kerala and are one of southern India’s major festivals.
However, people in North America did not let it stay confined to India only.
The famed Kerala Boat Race was on Aug. 29 recreated at a lake in Canada by members of the Malayalee community living there. It formed part of celebrations of “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” (auspicious occasion of independence) to commemorate 75 years of India’s Independence.
The Professor’s Lake at Brampton in Canada witnessed 21 teams, including two teams of women participating in the traditional boat race. It was 50 meters of intense competition.
Union Minister of State for External Affairs, V. Muraleedharan, took to his official Twitter handle to post “Kerala Boat Race goes global.”
Kerala Boat Race goes global!
Traditional Kerala Boat Race recreated in Professor’s Lake, Brampton, Canada by @indiaintoronto & Brampton Malayalee Samajam as part of #AzadiKaAmritMahotsav
Watch the enthusiastic participation of 19 mens’ and 2 womens’ teams vying for the trophy. pic.twitter.com/bxrz1PmGUj
— V. Muraleedharan (@MOS_MEA) August 29, 2021
“Kerala Boat Race goes global! Traditional Kerala Boat Race recreated in Professor’s Lake, Brampton, Canada by IndianToronto and Brampton Malayalee Samajam as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav,” he tweeted.
“Watch the enthusiastic participation of 19 mens’ and 2 women’s teams vying for the trophy.”
Each boat had 11 members, and the event was organized by India in Toronto, the Consulate General of India, and Brampton Malayalee Samajam.
Brampton Boat Race is one of the only such events that hosts the traditional Vallamkali (boat race) in the whole of North America.
The Brampton Malayalee Samajam, which calls itself a non-profit, non-political, secular, and cultural organization, its a principal objective is preserving and maintaining the culture, language, and heritage of Kerala.
Boat races have been a part of Kerala’s tradition. They attain festive proportions during the Onam season, the harvest festival of Kerala. Both men and women participate in the vallam kali.
Various types of boat races are played out every year in Kerala backwaters; each one has its own story of derivation with many mythological tales and traditions attached.
Rendering to historical sources, boat races were initiated as a means to resolve numerous arguments between the former kings and chiefs.
Boat races have been a characteristic part of temple celebrations prepared by religious groups.
The different types of boats that participate in races are chundan vallam (snake boat), iruttu kuthi, churulan vallam, cheru vallam, etc. Vanchipaattu is a kind of poetry, which is sung during vallam kali.
In large numbers, people go to these events to watch these snake-shaped beauties go head to head in rhythm to the old boat songs sung in full volume.
These snake boats are up to 100 feet long and bring the serene backwaters to life.
(With inputs from ANI)
Edited by Saptak Datta and Ritaban Misra
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