Trivia The boat’s rowing team has a structure too. It has a Kaarnavan / Karanaadhan who is the village leader and three main oarsmen who control the movement of the boat with a 12-foot-long main rudder-oar (Adanayampu). Sitting in pairs along the length of the boat, the 64 oarsmen represent 64 art forms (or on occasion 128 oarsmen). The boat moves smoothly and reduces absorption of water when oiled with a mixture of fish oil, coconut shells carbon and eggs.
Where The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is a popular Vallam Kali event held in the Punnamada Lake near Alappuzha.
How Learn the sport and have some sportsman spirit by learning to cheer for it. There are 25 singers in a row at the middle of the boat between the oarsmen. Towards the end of the boat, there is a platform for eight people to stand. It is from here that the main singer leads the song to the fast rhythm of `Vanchipattu’ or boatmen’s song. They represent the Ashtadikpalakas (the Devas or Gods, who guard the eight directions). Learn the famous Kuchelavritham Vanchipattu, a devotional song written by Ramapurathu Warrier.
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