THE NEHRU TROPHY BOAT RACE
The traditional boat race in Kerala also known as Nehru trophy boat race is held every year in association with the festival Onam. This race is held in the backwaters of kuttanadan in Alappuzha(also known as Allepy). Winning this boat race is a matter of prestige for every boat club in the state. Also the prizes are also very attractive with more and more sponsors coming every year. This year 52nd Nehru trophy boat was held on 12th august.
HistoryThe History of Nehru Trophy Boat Race is associated with the visit of late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, then Prime Minister of India to Alappuzha. The first race was an impromptu one conducted in 1952 in honour of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru who visited Alappuzha. In that race of snake boats, ‘Nadubhagam Chundan’ stood first. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru who was thrilled and excited by the performance of the oarsmen, jumped into the ‘Nadubhagam Chundan’, forgetting all security arrangements. The boat proceeded to the boat jetty carrying the Prime Minister. After his return to Delhi, a few months later in December 1952, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru donated a silver trophy, which is a replica of a snake boat placed on a wooden abacus. The trophy bears the following inscription above his signature; “To the winners of the boat race, which is a unique feature of community life in Travancore - Cochin.” This trophy later came to be known as Nehru Trophy, and in fond memory of great Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the people of Alappuzha celebrate the Nehru Trophy Boat Race every year.
Boats and Composition of the teamThe boats of Kerala are known after their shapes, sizes or purposes. The Chundaanvallam is so called because of its pointed prow. The term snake boat comes from its stern, which represents the raised, the hood of a snake and its length . The front end of this type of boat will be tapering in shape and the rear end will be very high from the water level. They have a length of about 60-65 meters and a capacity carrying hundred to hundred and ten people during the race time. The stern is majestically caparisoned and decorated with a flag and brass ornaments. Silken parasols are arrayed along the entire length of the boat. There will be almost 95 oarsmen, 5 Amarakkar (Controllers) and 10 'Nilakkar' (persons supposed to enhance the vigour and enthusiasm of the participating oarsman). It has got a resemblance to the shape of a snake, when it advances in a competition and hence became popular as snake boats. Snake boats are the traditional battle vessels of Kerala known as Chundan vallams . They were originally designed as a naval vessel used for battle.
Team effortFor many of us team effort is when India wins a cricket series. But I feel this race has team effort more than any other sport. There are about 95 oarsmen all of whom have to execute their job simultaneously. If not done simultaneously, the speed won’t be maintained and also the boat will become difficult to control. For doing this simultaneously there is no synchronization clock as we have in our electronic circuits, It is the Vanchi pattu(the boat song) that helps them to execute simultaneously with the group. It is really very interesting to see all these people rowing simultaneously as if it is some machine that is working. 5 people who steer the boat are also of great importance and their action is to control the direction of the boat. In case when the boat has to go straight and if among 95 oarsmen, one of them makes a mistake, it is the controller’s duty to rectify it immediately otherwise it may cumulatively change the coarse of the boat.
Then come another 10 people who do nothing directly to the boat but are in fact extra weight in the boat. These ten men are responsible lifting the morale of the team. They sing songs at the highest pitch they can even if their boat is at the last place. Apart from this, it is their song that helps people execute their job simultaneously.
VANCHIPATTU (SONG OF THE BOATMAN)These highly rhythmic songs were created to keep up the spirits of the boatmen. The rhythm of these songs blends perfectly with the movement of the oars and to keep up devotional, mythological or relating to rustic life styles. Every snake boat has about ten singers keeping time with traditional percussion instruments
One famous song I can think of goes like this…
Kuttanadan kunjayille’
kochu penne’ kuyill alle’
kottu vennam kurall vennam, kuravva vennamoh thi thi thara thi thi thaye thi thaye’ thaka thaka thom.(these lines are repeated at different tempos… from slow to fast)
Let me try to translate it in English…
In the back waters of Kuttanadan
There lived a young girl and a young guy who was a good singer too.
There should be drumbeats, people shouting in the background (for what occasion, even I’m not sure because I don’t know the full version of the song).
Thi thi thara… is the rhythm they are all shouting…
Watching this race from the gallery is a real treat to both our eyes and brain. I was really enthralled by watching so many men in action in such a good manner. Their team effort is indeed a lesson to learn. The most important that, I’m sure, will remain in my mind and heart for a long time will be the ten 'Nilakkar' (persons supposed to enhance the vigour and enthusiasm of the participating oarsman). Never before I realized the importance of such people. Their song is still on the tip of my tongue.
Kuttanadan kunjayille’….
CHILUKUR BALAJI TEMPLE A.K.A. VISA TEMPLE
Very rarely I visit temples, yet I’ve been to many important temples in India like Madurai Meenakshi, Kashi, Thirupati etc. My recent Visit was to Chilukur Balaji Temple. Of course the visit was not a pre planed one as usual, I had gone there only to accompany Hari. Hari had a wish fulfilled, so he was supposed to make 108 rounds around the temple. The general rule of the temple is that you have to make 11 rounds when you ask for a wish to be fulfilled. Once this wish is fulfilled you have to make 108 rounds.
Preparations
Apart from wearing clean clothes, head bath etc. (which are essential to go to any other temple), and one has to carry a book or a paper and a pencil or pen. This is to record the no. Of revolutions (!!!) you make around the temple. And Yeah! You must also have a clear idea of the Purpose of your visit. I had thought of three wishes to ask for. That means I got to make thirty-three rounds. If any of these wishes come true I have to make 108 rounds for each wish. That means if all the wishes come true I got to make 324(3*108) rounds. Actually I had many more wishes to ask for but considering the risk and significance of my wishes, I restricted myself to3!
Getting there
The best way to go to Chilukur is to go to Mehdipatnam and then go by an exclusive bus to Chilukur Balaji temple. The bus stop is right in front of elixir bakery. The route that the bus takes is the one by which we used to go to college every day for 4 years: Oh!! This made me nostalgic. I wanted all those college days back. But 4km away from college, the bus took a diversion. Only Chilukur Balaji and I know how much I wished the bus hadn’t taken the diversion. The route from there was very beautiful and sceneric.
The difference
After 45 minutes of journey from mehdipatnam we reached Chilukur. As I got down, I could see what makes this temple different from others. There were hoardings and advertisement banners of many coaching institutes, which teach JAVA, SAP, .Net, etc. Also Advertisements of consultants for overseas studies, advertisements of men’s hostel, women’s hostel etc. There were a no. Of young men and women wandering around. Wandering around because I found many so-called-couples there. Should I call them yuppies!! Of course I can as some of them might have come with their wish fulfilled.
For a moment I wondered whether I’ve come to a wrong place, in a college festival or a job fair. I confirmed once I got inside the temple. I was taken aback at first. So many people were rushing, walking fast around the temple with some of them running around. We found gaps and went for ‘Dharshan’. This is the only temple probably where you don’t need to give any ‘Dhakshina’. I asked for my 3 wishes. Now came the difficult task of walking around the temple. 33 seemed easy! I started walking at the speed of the crowd. 5 minutes passed and I made only 2 rounds. That means it is going to take one hour to complete the whole thing. I thought of giving up. The Pujari announcing that we can make half the rounds today and the rest latter followed this. Very cooperative pujari! I thought for a while and continued at least to make half of them. I started walking fast and as I walked I made some strange observations.
Unlike other temples, which are meant for oldies, this temple had many young people, which make 90% of the visitors. The average age of the crowd would be somewhere between 23 and 25. People were walking very fast as if they would miss some train if they don’t. I could hear some people saying “81 over”, “only 35”, “10 more left” etc. of course they were referring to the no.of rounds they have made. I heard names of many places most of them in the U.S. like “ Mississippi! Such a cold place yaa”, “Illinois! Good!” “ Is that a state university in Chicago?” etc. Those were the places where many are willing to go for higher studies. And then “when?” This is a big question as they were asking for their date of appointment in the American consulate for visa (the reason for which many come here) or their departure. “21st July”,“23rd July”, “3rd august” etc. came the answers. And also there was one stranger thing in this temple. Apart from the usual devotional songs I could hear some songs like “it’s the time for disco”, “bheegay hoont therey” etc. which of course came from the I-pods or the mobile phones of these youngsters.
By the time I made 20, I felt a little tired. I thought of giving up. But then, I saw a limp man walking with the help of his crutches. He was also in the crowd making rounds around the temple. I followed him. By the time he made one, I made 2 or sometimes 3. I wondered when he would finish making rounds. Yet in his face and body language, I could find the determination to finish. His determination was my first source of inspiration. The second source being the pretty lady in orange and copper sulphate blue dress. She too seemed very determined. I couldn’t take my eyes off her, such se** (oh! Sorry govinda! Govinda! ) And beautiful she was. Then I looked at Hari who also seemed determined to finish. I looked at the other devotees and drew inspiration from them. I kept walking at a speed of one round in 45-50 seconds. Two hours passed and I had completed 108! Rounds. Then I reminded myself that I was supposed to do only 33. I’m done with 75(108-33) extra rounds. Then I thought ‘ let this be a down payment. The rest will be paid in installments as and when my wishes come true.
I wonder how successful GOD would be in granting my wishes, but this visit to the temple thought me what determination was, especially the determination shown by the limp man. Also a sense of satisfaction as I finished 108 rounds made me happy. I’m as every body who finishes their 108 rounds would be happy. I wondered for a moment how much satisfaction that limp man might have got. For I also wished that my 75 rounds down-payment be transferred into his account.
