Alappuzha: The calm waters of Alappuzha on August 17, erupted into colour, rhythm, and fierce competition when Red Bull Vallam Vali unfolded. Part race, part tug of war, the event paid tribute to heritage while adding a bold new twist.

The event was held at Muppalam Canal, a location well known for its presence in films such as Dil Se and several blockbusters starring Rajinikanth, Allu Arjun, and Ravi Teja. With more than 300 rowers taking part, the competition unfolded across various formats, from the mighty 100-foot-long Chundan Vallams with 80 rowers to the lighter 20-man Churlan Vallams.

The canal banks echoed with Chenda Melam (traditional percussion), Vanjji Pattu (rowers’ folk songs), vibrant dance performances, and fun quiz games.

MLA PP Chitharanjan shared his thoughts on the occasion:

“Red Bull Vallam Vali will make a huge difference to Alappuzha tourism. Visitors drawn here by this event will directly support our community from hotels, shops, and restaurants to taxis, autorickshaws, and bike rentals. This is a wonderful opportunity for our people. The government is fully supportive of such initiatives, and we thank Red Bull and Sports Exotica for bringing this project to Alappuzha.”

The main attraction, the Row Off, was unlike anything the crowd had seen before. Two massive Chundan Vallams, each rowed by 80 synchronised oarsmen, faced each other in a thrilling water-based tug of war. The sight was both powerful and deeply rooted in tradition.

After a day of intense racing, the Ashtamudi Acers proved unbeatable, taking top honours in both the Chundan Vallam and Churlan Vallam categories. Other strong contenders included the Kuttanad Knights, Vembanad Vikings, and Punnamada Panthers, many of whom are also preparing for the prestigious Nehru Trophy Boat Race in the coming weeks.

“This is my very first snake boat race. The sound of the drums, the music, and the cheering crowd made it magical. It truly felt like I was part of history.” One spectator shared.

“There are races everywhere. The Nehru trophy is the start of the season. We wanted to bring the spotlight to Kerala and India. And the world is watching. Along with Red Bull, the state and Alappuzha will also get wonderful highlights in front of the world,” said Sanju Samuel from Sports Exotica, the sports execution partner of the event.

Looking ahead, he expressed ambitious hopes:

“Our dream is that within the next two to three years, this will become an international event with teams from across the world. That will boost tourism even more and create opportunities for local businesses, from tea shops and restaurants to cultural attractions. This will be a destination development through sports, that’s our focus for large events in this.

“The local response was overwhelming. People were excited, though of course, there were some doubts in the beginning. But with strong support from the sports community, the district administration, and the public, it all came together beautifully,” he added.

“The district administration declared this as the opening of the boat race season. With it coinciding with Chingam 1, such an auspicious day, everything fell perfectly into place.”