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Vallam kali (vaḷḷaṃ kaḷi, literally: boat game), also known as the snake boat race, is a traditional canoe racing event mainly conducted in association with the Onam festival, an annual cultural harvest period celebrated by the people of Kerala, India, typically occurring from July to September.

In Kerala, during an early 13th-century war between the feudal kingdoms of Kayamkulam and Chembakassery, King Devanarayana of Chembakassery commissioned the construction of a specialized war boat named Chundan Vallam and tasked a famous carpenter, Kodipunna Venkida Narayanan, with the responsibility of creating it. Of the snake boats still in use today, the Parthasarathi Chundan is the oldest model. ^[1][2] For the past 400 years, the chundan vallam and other boat types started being used for vallam kali, held along many of the lakes of Kerala. ^[3]

Vallam Kali was performed as a religious ritual to honor past Hindu kings and gods that dwell among the coastal temples. For example, the Aranmula Uthrattathi Boat Race, which is celebrated as a ritual to honor Lord Parthasarathy, is connected to the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple. ^[1] Due to their synchronicity with the Onam festival, they are also used to honor the legendary King Mahabali. ^[3] But in the modern era, the transition from a local tradition to a state-recognized sport began in 1952, when former Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru visited Kerala and witnessed a boat race at the Punnamada Lake near Alappuzha. Captivated by the boats and the races, he decided to jump on one of the boats himself, avoiding his security. Later on that year, he decided to donate a silver trophy, which in turn became the prize for the Nehru Trophy Boat Race, one of the most famous vallam kali competitions. ^[3][4]

In 2019, Kerala tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran announced the establishment of a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to globally telecast the IPL-inspired Champions Boat League as an annual event, with the intention of generating revenue and tourist attraction through advertisements and sponsorships. ^[5] Today, these races draw thousands of spectators from across Kerala, the rest of India, and abroad. Due to its connection with Onam, local schools often close, allowing children to join in the celebrations and watch the competitions. ^[6] Not all vallam kali displays this competitive spirit, with other races, like the Aranmula Uthrattathi Boat Race, still retaining their ritual aspects.

Vanchippattu

The Vanchippattu (literally: boat song) consists of chants sung by rowers in Malayalam to the rhythm of the oars. This originated as a form of poetry pioneered by Ramapurathu Warrier, a renowned Malayalam poet. ^[1] During ritual-oriented races such as the Aranmula Uthrattathi, these songs are essential to preserving the sacred rituals that define these events.

Vallam kali boats are designed in the style of traditional paddled war canoes. The most popular type of boat used during vallam kali is called the chundan vallam ('snake boat'). Other common types of boats used in vallam kali are listed below:

Though rules mostly vary by region and type of event, standardized rules are enforced among more competitive races, in which a violation can lead to a penalty or disqualification from the race.

Each team, which represents a village or a club, is required to register their boats and display their boat name. Captains are expected to identify themselves for the duration of the race, and all rowers, with a minimum required for each boat category, are expected to be in their attire. ^[10]

Major races are typically longer, with the Nehru Trophy Boat Race spanning 1.4 km in length. ^[1] Before the race starts, all boats must participate in the processional period, often called the mass drill, where boats are presented and displayed. People must be lined up in two lanes to row the boat. ^[10] When the race starts, the goal of each boat is to cross the finish line in the fastest time possible while staying on the allotted track. An individual timing system is placed to accurately mark the finish times of each boat down to millisecond precision. ^[11] The winning team is given prize money; though amounts vary with the type and level of competition, prizes are typically over ₹1 lakh. ^[1] If multiple teams finish the race within the same time, however, some competitions allow teams to share the trophy for 6 months each; the order of which team keeps the trophy first is determined by a draw. ^[11] When the race concludes, each boat must immediately exit the finishing area. ^[10]

To ensure success in the race, both the boat and its participants need to undergo months of rigorous training. As each boat represents either a village or a club, community spirit is prioritized and a key feature in vallam kali. ^[1] Additionally, to preserve its religious purpose, certain rituals need to be done in participation.

The best oarsmen, typically about 150, are selected from each village. Physical conditioning is a major aspect of training, focusing on synchronizing strokes with vanchippattu. Physical training is guided by senior oarsmen, and the vanchipattu is often led by the karanaadan (captain) and four adanayampu (rudder oarsmen) of the boat. ^[12] Endurance is also often needed, requiring 80-100 strokes per minute from each rower to ensure the best chance of success. ^[1] Participants of each boat engage in strict abstinence and diets, limiting their nutrition to the Valla Sadhya. ^[13]

Boats themselves also need to undergo strict maintenance and decoration, sometimes even year-round. A mixture of fish oil, coconut shell, and ash is used to oil the boats and keep the wood and hull strong. These repair measures are often carried out by the village carpenter and are most prioritized before and after each race. Decoration is then added, most often including cultural ornaments such as silk umbrellas and brass lamps. ^[1]

Men's and women's events take place separately. ^[10] Attire is less strict, but participants are often barefoot and adorn a white mundu and turban ^{[14] [15]} On the day of the race, rituals and blessings are given towards the boats. In the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple, for example, the men offer paddy, tobacco, and betel leaves to Parthasarathy and circumambulate the temple, chanting in Vanchipattu. ^[15] Then boats are led to the water in the mass drill right before the race with traditional music and dance in the background, paying homage to its cultural part. ^[1]