Fast Facts Popular as: Moolam Vallam Kali Festival Time: June-July Highlights: enthusiast riders, shimmering water floats, vanchipattu songs, chundanvallom race Venue: River Pampa City: Champakulam State: Kerala Country: India The Champakulam Boat Race is conducted every year at Champakulam lake in Alappuzha in Kerala.
This race is organised by the Malayalam month Midhunam on the Moolam day, the day when the deity at the Shri Krishna Temple at Ambalappuzha.
Champakulam is the oldest and the and the most popular snake boat race in Kerala.
Legend: In past days, Maharaja Devnarayana of Chempakasseri was restricted by royal priest to build the temple at Ambalappuzha.
Before he could install the deity he came to know that the idol was not propitious.
The king was anxious to know the solution to the problem.
The brilliant solution was suggested one of the minister of the king.
He said the beautiful idol of Lord Krishna at the temple in Kurichi, which was presented by Arjuna himself, should be brought to this temple.
The minister went there and arrived back with the idol.
While coming back they stopped for the night at Champakulam to perform a holy ceremony.
The Champakulam boat race held in the same honor and the age old tradition is kept alive till date.
Places of Champakulam Boat Race: It is the great water carnival which is organized on the River Pampa which is located around 26 km from Alappuzha in Kerala, in the southern part of India.
Entertainment during the Champakulam Boat Race: The festivities include spectacular water floats, decorated boats, Vanchipattu, the song of the oarsmen and the most thrilling Chundanvallom race.
Chundans are a type of boat, which are over 100 feet in length with raised prows.