ThePresident's Trophy Boat Race is a popularboat race held on theAshtamudi lake inKollam city on 1 November every year.[1] The day marks the birth of the Indian state ofKerala, known asKerala Piravi. This is the most popular of the races to be held during the season of the harvest festival,Onam, in Autumn onAshtamudi Lake inKollam. There would be races in five categories, namelyChundan Vallam (snake-boats), two grades ofVeppu Vallam, and two grades ofIruttukuthi Vallam. Sixteen snake-boats would compete in four heats. The trophy had been instituted in the name of the President of India. President of India will be present to witness the race and would also give away the trophy and cash prize to the winning team. The race will become a part of Kerala'sIPL-model boat race league from 2019 onward. TheGovernment of Kerala is planning to make President's Trophy Boat Race as the finishing event of Champions’ Boat League.[2]
Kollam is a miniature of Kerala in all its pomp and pride in tourism map. The Ashtamudi Lake – beautiful calm water spread with enchanting greenery on the blanks. It is also gifted with unique representative features - sea, lakes plains, monuments, rivers, streams, backwaters, forest, and vast green fields.
The venue is at Gateway of Ashtamudi. The race will start from the water column near Thevally Palace and finishing point will be front of the house boat terminal.[1] The water body having 1250 m long in between these two points is scheduled as the Track for the race.[1]
As the oarsmen throw their oars in unison to the fast paced rhythm of the vanchipattu (Song of the Boatmen), the huge black crafts slice through pristine race course of Ashtamudi Lake to a spectacular finish. Hundreds of spectators, including tourists from abroad, thronging the lake front, erupts out of joy.
Boat race is telecasted live in DD National and DD Malayalam.
Winners of the first edition of President's Trophy Boat Race -Sree Ganeshan Chundan(St. Francis Boat Club, Kollam).[3] Runner up -Devas Chundan (Jesus Boat Club, Kollam).[3]
Her Excellency the Honorable President of India, Smt.Pratibha Devisingh Patil inaugurated first edition of President's Trophy boat race.[1]
