Alappuzha: The much-anticipated 70th edition of the Nehru Trophy Boat Race was won by the Karichal Chundan at the Punnamada Lake. The race, held here on on Saturday, was officially inaugurated by Kerala’s Tourism Minister PA Mohammed Riyas. 

The Karichal Chundan finished the race in a record time of 4:29.785, etching their name into the event's history. Close behind them was Veeyapuram Chundan, completing the course in 4:29.790, followed by Nadubhagom Chundan at 4:30.13, and Niranam Chundan at 4:30.56. 

A total of 74 boats participated in this year’s event. This year’s race saw participation from 19 snake boats, or Chundan Valloms. The other boats include Churulan (3 boats), Iruttukuthi A grade (4 boats), Iruttukuthi B grade (16 boats), Iruttukuthi C grade (14 boats), Veppu A grade (7 boats), Veppu B grade (4 boats), Thekkenodi Thara (3 boats) and Thekkenodi Kettu (4 boats). The boats represented a mix of well-established clubs with decades of tradition and newer teams eager to make their mark on this prestigious event.

Originally scheduled for August 10, the event was postponed following the Wayanad landslide tragedy. The delay did not dampen the spirits of the teams or the spectators.

Hundreds of spectators, including a notable number of foreign tourists, lined the banks of Punnamada Lake. The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is one of the largest water sports events in India, and the crowd eagerly anticipated the action-packed race.

The lake was filled with the sound of rhythmic rowing and cheers as the boats sped through the water, competing for glory.

The origins of the Nehru Trophy Boat Race date back to 1952, when India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, visited Kerala. Captivated by the sight of the majestic snake boats, Nehru reportedly jumped onto one of the boats, setting aside his security protocol. As a gesture of appreciation for the time spent there, he later donated a silver trophy in the shape of a snake boat.

Since then, the race has been named in his honour and has grown to become a much-anticipated annual event.