The Hindu Business Line : Heritage tag revives enthusiasm in Aranmula snake boat race

Kochi, April 3 The revived enthusiasm to actively participate in the annual Aranmula Uthrittathi Snake boat race among the villagers on the banks of the river Pampa in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district appears to have motivated them to embark on building new boats, unique to this area even at high costs.

What makes them to go for it is the nostalgic attachment to the race connected with the culture and tradition of the people of Aranmula region for centuries. In the past, 48 snake boats used to participate in the race held on the last day of the Onam festival every year, on which day falls the anniversary of the Sri Krishna idol installation at the Aranmula Parthasarathy temple.

As years passed by boats became old requiring extensive repairs and for want of funds the Palliyoda Sangams (Snake boat managing committee in each village) had to withdraw from the race. This has brought down the total number drastically to 16, Dr K G Sasidharan Nair, President, Palliyoda Seva Sangam (PSS), the apex body of the snake boat managing committees, told Business Line. At present there are 40 boats and two more are under construction, he said.

Ever since the Centre declared Aranmula as a Heritage village, the situation has changed. During the past two years, the Central Tourism Ministry had allotted Rs 16 lakh for preserving and promoting the legendary snake boat race which is believed to have been held here for the past 1,000 years.

A Heritage museum and a reference library have been set up here, Dr Nair said. From the resources of the PSS each Palliyoda Sangam is provided with financial assistance to repair the boats.

As the snake boats represent the villages each of it is named after the village. Based on the capacity of the boats they classified in to two batches, A and B. The former with a length of 35 metres will accommodate 120 oarsmen while the latter with 30 metres will have 80 men onboard.

Unique in shape

Unlike other such boats used in the races anywhere in the world, snake boats here are unique in their shape and structure and traditionally attached to Aranmula, where it originated several centuries ago. This boat will have one-third each of its total length at the front and rear 6 to 10 feet above the water level leaving one-third of its hull in the centre keeping it afloat on the water.

Thus, the rear head which is caparisoned and where four experienced men will stand and control the boat with long and thick oars, remains 10 feet above the water while the pointed front portion will be 6 feet above the water. Therefore, the oarsman sitting at front edge will hold a very long oar, only tip of which will touch water splashing it during the race, Dr Nair said.

Two boats viz, Nedumprayar and Keezhukara, are currently under construction. They are of 35 metre long and built at a cost of Rs 16 lakh each. It will take 1,000 man days for carpentry and 600 man days for blacksmith work. The total wages of carpenters and blacksmiths would come to around Rs 5.75–6 lakh, Mr Ajit Kumar, Convenor of Nedumprayar Snake boat building committee, told Business Line.

“The work is being done in such a way that we are hoping to participate in the next Uthrittathi boat race on September 16,” he said.

The main problem for building snake boats is non-availability of skilled carpenters who know the “calculations”. There are only three such head carpenters, at present, who are experts on the job and in their late 60s and early 70s.

Both these boats are being built under the supervision of the senior Ayroor Chellappan Achary and his son Mr Santhosh, Mr Sajeev S Kurup, Joint Convenor said.

According to Mr Santhosh, better opportunities for higher/professional education and the craze for white collar jobs have forced the present generation to leave their traditional vocation (carpentry).

“Most of our youths do not like to learn this job because they feel to be known as a carpenter is below their dignity. But a skilled worker will get a daily wage of Rs 300-400 in Kerala. My father has passed on the knowledge about building the snake boat to me and I will pass on it to my children,” he said.

Buying old snake boats aged over 100 years is common these days by resort owners for placing it as an attractive antique in the lobby or outside the waterfront resorts. Recently, Mr Ajit said, one snake boat about 100 years old was bought by a resort owner in Kochi for Rs 1.55 lakh. He said the old snake boat of his Nedumprayar village is also for sale once the new one is completed.