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Aaranmula Boat Race

Start Date : 30-Aug-2007
End Date : 30-Aug-2007
Venue : Pampa Lake, Aranmula, Kerala
City : Aranmula
Country : India
Category : Kerala

Aranmula Boat Race is conducted during the festival of Onam, which takes place in the month of August/September. The venue of the race is Pampa Lake in Aranmula, Kerala. It is a two-days event and has a legend attached to it. It is said that there was a Brahmin, who pledged to feed one pilgrim each day. One day Lord Krishna himself appeared before the Brahmin as a pilgrim. Delighted at getting "darshan" of the Lord, he promised to offer 51 measures of rice and the provision for the thiruvona sadya (Onam feast) at the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple, situated near the Pampa Lake.
However, once the rivals from another village intercepted the boat carrying the offerings. The people belonging to the village of the Brahmin came to his rescue on snake boats. Afterwards, a fleet of palliyodam, huge luxurious snake boat used by gods and royalty, carried offerings to the temple. From that time onwards, Aranmula Uthrattadi Vallamkali is organized on the Pampa Lake of Kerala and the entire legend is re-enacted.

Getting there :
Nearest Railway Station : Chengannur, about 10km away
Nearest Airport : Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about 115 km away