Chundan vallam
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Chundan vallam ('beaked boat'), known outside Kerala as Kerala snake boats, are one of the icons of
Constructed according to specifications taken from the
Traditions and customs
Traditionally each boat belongs to a village, and the villagers worship that boat like a
Capacity and usage
Traditionally a boat will be commanded by a village leader (kaarnavan or karanaadhan) with first adanayampu,[clarification needed] and under him there will be three main paddlers who control the movement of the boat with a 12-foot-long (3.7 m) main rudder-oar (adanayampu). Sitting two to a row along the length of the boat, there will be 64 paddlers, representing 64 art forms (or on occasion 128 paddlers). They row in rhythm of the vanchipattu ('boat[man's] song'). There will be around 25 singers in a row at the middle between the paddlers. In the middle of the second half of the boat is a platform for eight people to stand from where the cantor will lead the song. They represent the Ashtadikpalakas (Devas or gods who guard the eight directions).[2]
See also
- Vallam kali
- Aranmula Boat Race
- Aranmula Kannadi
- Kallada Boat Race
- Dragon boat
- Waka
- Swan boat (racing)
- Nouka Baich
References
- ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
- ^ "Chundan Vallam (India) - Traditional Sports". www.traditionalsports.org. Retrieved 11 October 2020.