Aranmula Boat Race
This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (February 2009) |
Aranmula Boat Race Aranmula Vallam Kali | |
---|---|
Pathanamthitta District, Kerala | |
Coordinates | 9°19′40″N 76°41′18″E / 9.32778°N 76.68833°E |
Country | India |
Inaugurated | 1972 |
Previous event | 15 Sep 2019 |
Next event | 02 September 2023 |
Organised by | Palliyoda Seva Sangham |
Website | aranmulavallamkali |
The Aranmula Boat festival is the oldest river boat festival in
Aranmula temple
Palliyodams (snake boats)
Construction
Locating a suitable tree preferably Anjili, cutting it down and bringing to the location for construction is the first step. Selecting an auspicious day and time work begins. All these are according to Vedas, an ancient treatise on building of wooden boats. These boats are about 100 to 138 ft in length, with the rear portion towering to a height of about 20 ft. and a long tapering front portion. When completed it resembles a snake with its hood raised. Its hull is built of planks precisely 83 feet in length and six inches wide.[citation needed]
Care of a snake boat
Every year the boats are oiled mainly with fish oil,
Getting onto a snake boat
- Only men of the village are allowed to be in the boat.
- Dress. White loin cloth (Mundu) and turban.
- No shirt and footwear.
Traditionally it will be commanded by a Kaarnavan / Karanaadhan (Village leader) with First Adanayampu and under him there will be three main oarsmen who control the movement of the boat with 12 feet long main rudder-oar (Adanayampu). Sitting two in row along the length of the Boat there will be the oarsmen, They row in rhythm of the Vanchippattu (boatman's song). Standing on the platform in the middle of the boat, the main singer will lead the Vanchippattu. A few singers will be with the main leader while others will stand at the middle between the oarsmen.[citation needed]
Vanchipattu
The singers lead the Vanchippattu (boatman's song) which the oarsmen will repeat and they move the oars in circular form according to its rhythm. Usually the selection will be from "Kuchela Vrythom Vanchipattu".
Example: (in Malayalam) Note that The oar should make one full circle between the dashes (-).
- Singers – Paranja-thangane thanney-
- Oarsmen - Thei thei -thakathei thei thom-
- Singers – Paranja-thangane thanney-
- Oarsmen – Thithi tha thi- thei thei,
- Singers – Paranja-thangane thanney – paathirava-yallo Pathni
- Oarsmen – Paranja-thangane thanney – paathirava-yallo Pathni
- All together – Ohh thei tha- thaka tha thiki thaka thom
- Theeya Thitho thitho thikithom
- Singers - Kuranj-onnurangatte njan
- Oarsmen - Thei thei -thakathei thei thoy-
- Singers - Kuranj-onnurangatte njan
- Oarsmen – Thitha tha thi- thei thei,
- Singers - Kuranj-onnurangatte njan ulak -irezhum
The Malayaraya community inhabiting the upper reaches of Western ghats at present, have many Vanjippattu songs included in their literature which are used in their artforms such as Kolakali and Ivarkali.[2] The presence of such songs which are exclusively used in the Aranmula tradition could be because Malayarayars were once the non-brahmanical, vama/Kaulachara "karmis" of Aranmula Appan or mahavishnu as attested by "Thirunizhalmala," one of the oldest poems in Malayalam language and it's creator Ayiroor Govindan.[3]
Malayarayars praise "Thiruvaranmula Appan" and "Ayiroor Bhagavati" in their traditional songs. They are believed to have left the plains for mountains after their defeat at Chotty sometime between AD 1407 and 1419. Malayaraya/ Malaya country known as "Maleam" in certain 17th century European maps of Malabar lying east of Chotti was transferred to Poonjar by the victoriousThekkumkur rajas.[3]
The last few lines of "Bana Yudham" reveals the true antiquity of Aranmula Vanjippattu tradition.
വഞ്ചിരാമൻ (രാമവർമ്മ കുലശേഖരപ്പെരുമാൾ ?) മന്ത്രിമാരിൽ (നാല് തളി ?)
മുൻപനാകും മഹാവീരൻ
പഞ്ചബാണാംബുജവീരൻ അംബുജനേത്രൻ
നെഞ്ചിലേറ്റം മോദമോടെ വഞ്ചിതന്നിൽ പാടുവാൻ
ചഞ്ചലം കൂടാതെ നല്ല വഞ്ചിയുണ്ടാക്കി[4]
Malayarayas have no historical memory about their presence in Ayiroor, the relationship with Aranmula temple or "Vanjippattu". These facts have came into light through some studies concluded quite recently.
Festivals
A number of colourful festivals rich in traditions are held at
Thiruvonam
On
Uthrittathi
It is considered that ‘’Uthrittathi’’ day is the anniversary of the installation of the idol consecrated in the south, by
Aranmula Vallasadya
Another important event is the Aranmula Valla
- Adaprathaman. (Pudding); Aravana payasam. (Pudding made from rice, jaggery and ghee); Aval (flattened rice); Avial (Mixed vegetable curry); Banana chips; Chammanthi powder (Chutney with chillies); Chukku vellum (dried ginger water); Curd; Ellunda (gingelly ball); Fried banana; Ghee; Ginger curry; Holy water from river Pampa; Kaalhen (curry made from curds); Kaalipazham payasam (Pudding made of banana); Kalkandum (Sugar candy); Kadala Prathaman (made of Bengal gram) ; Kychadi (Curry made of rice and gram); Mango curry; Munthiri pachadi (Curry made of grapes); Olen, (mixed curry); Pacchadi (A vegetable curry); Paal payasm (Pudding made of Milk); Pachamoru; Pulisserry (Curry prepared with thick and sour buttermilk); Resam; Red Cheera Thoran (made with a variety of amaranthus); Sambar; Thakara Thoran (Thoran with cassia tora); Unniappam.
Palliyodoms that took part in September 2016
(Maximum number of men allowed in the boat and total length of the
- Arattupuzha. (139, .. )
- Ayroor(125, 143’)
- Chennithala. (80, 117).
- Cherukol Sri Padmanabha Dasa Palliyodom. (110, 99’)
- Edanad. (.., 146)
- Edappavur. (110, 123)
- Edappavur –Peroor (110, 142’)
- Edasserimala. (.., 139).
- Edasserimala- East.. (85, 139).
- Edayaranmula. (140
- Edayaranmula- East. (100, 146’)
- Kadapra. (.., ..)
- Keezhvanmazhi (110, 139)
- Kattoor (80, 140’)
- Keezhukara. (135, 142’). Stern Height 20’, the tallest among all
- Kodiattukara. (80, ..)
- Koipram(100, 139). 89 years old.
- Kottathur. (60, ..)
- Kozhencherry (100, 133’)
- Kuriannoor. (100, 139’)
- Lhaha. (95, 140’)
- Malakkara (110, 143’)
- Mallappuzhassery (.., 99’)
- Mangalam. (85, ..)
- Melukara (.., 142’)
- Maramon. (100, 142)
- Mundan Kavu (112, …). One hundred years old.
- Muthuvazhi. (65, ..)
- Nedumprayar. (.., 142’)
- Nellickal, (.., 137’)
- Othara (81, 124’)
- Poovathur East. (77, 124)
- Poovathur West (104, 129’)
- Prayaar
- Punnamthottam (140, 144’)
- Ranni. (.., 121’)
- Thekkemuri (112, 137’)
- Thottapuzhassery. (85, ..)
- Thymaravumkara. (64, 124)
- Umayattukara. (110, 120’)
- Vanmazhi. (70, 120).
- Venpala (.., 125’)
See also
- Aranmula kottaram
- Chundan Vallam
- Nehru Trophy Boat Race
- Vallam Kali
- Onam
- Cuisine of Kerala
- Aranmula
Other renowned boat races in Kerala
- President's Trophy Boat Race
- Champakulam Moolam Boat Race
- Nehru Trophy Boat Race
- Payippad Jalotsavam
- Kumarakom Boat Race
- Kallada Boat Race
- Pampa Boat Race, Neerettupuram
- Gothuruth Boat Race since 1938, Ernakullam [6]
External links
- http://www.aranmula.net
- Snake Boat Race
- http://www.aranmulavallamkali.com Archived 18 July 2019 at the Wayback Machine
- Aranmula Vallamkali 2010 Archived 23 February 2013 at archive.today
- Aranmula
- A foreigner's experience of Aranmula snake boats - Onam 2011
References
- ^ The Kerala Companion, Kerala Tourism Dept. Page 40.
- ^ Harigovindam - Vanjippattu songs collected by melukara Shivankutty Ashan, Editor: Rajesh Kumar K, Pages 111, 329-332
- ^ a b Padakkalputhamekel- Thirunizhalmalapadhanam, Rajesh Kumar K, Manjalkkuri (Jinesh Jills George) Pages 13-28
- ^ Malayarayarude Anushtanaganangal by shylaja Narayanan Page 81
- ^ Desabhimani, 30 December 2008. [full citation needed]
- ^ "Gothuruth Boat Race, Kerala, India". 18 May 2014. Archived from the original on 18 May 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2021.