Regional boat race season in Kerala intensifies with CBL kick-off For many years boat races in Kerala were restricted to a few watertournaments in the central region of the state and which conducted with thenever-ending spirit of local administration with the support of backwatervillages as it’s deeply connected with their customs and rituals. Some of thoseraces are still very popular even internationally attracting huge crowds in themidst of off-tourism season. Popular races, such as Champakulam MoolamVallam Kali (boat Race) Nehru Trophy Boat race in Alleppey and ArammullaUthrattathi Jalolsavam have track records of conducting the shows for manydecades without any interruption. (Except in 2020 & 2021, due to Covidlockdown). But now the scenarios have changed with the arrival of the ChampionsBoat League (CBL) which created a platform for a series of competitionsbetween local boat clubs in the central Kerala region in popular ChundanVallam  (Snake Boats) categories. The first race of this series kicked off at Marine Drive, Kochi on 16th September 2023, and the lastleague is scheduled with the President’s trophy at Kollam on 2ndDecember 2023. Other race venues are Kottapuram, Trissur (23rdSeptember), Piravom Ernakulam (30th September), Thazhathangady,Kottayam (7th October), Pulinkunnu Alappuzha (14thOctober), Kainakry Alappuzha (21st October), Karuvatta Alappuzha (23rdOctober) Pandanadu, Chengannur, Alappuzha (11th November),Kayamkulam Alappuzha (18th November) and Kallada Kollam (25thNovember). Kerala’s most popular Chundan Vallams (snake boats with around 100oarsmen in each boat) and reputed boat clubs are expected to participate inthis regatta. Another interesting development with regard to CBL is that thisyear they have introduced races of Iruttukuthi / Veppu Vallams (smaller boatswith a capacity of 35 oarsmen) exclusively for north Kerala with active supportfrom the Kerala Tourism Department. The very first race of the CBL northernregion edition was inaugurated by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on 9thSeptember at Muppilangadi in Kannur district, while thousands of boat raceenthusiasts gathered on the banks of Anjarikadi river to witness the fiercebattle between 13 Veppu Vallams (smaller Boats). The new trend of more localboat races, especially in the region where boat races are not so common, willhopefully boost tourism activity, the experts in the industry believe. Kerala Boat Race Welfare Association with other local boat clubs incentral Kerala districts organizes a series of smaller boat races at thevillage level with active backing from respective panchayat authorities. In thelast month, local boat races of Iruttukuthi Vallams (smaller boats) in Aroor,Thriprayar, Kadashamkadavu, Kaliyammakkal Theeram, Padoor, and Paravoor haveattracted a large number of boat race lovers from various places. In theSeptember-December season, around 10-15 local boat races will take place in thebackwater villages of Ernakulam-Trissur districts in the locally popularIruttukuthi category. It would be going to be a hectic schedule for boat racelovers in the state, especially for the next 4 months, as boat races takeplace every Sunday in different venues.  Success story – NTBR 2023The Nehru Trophy Boat Race (NTBR) one of the country’s most popularrural sports events took place on 12th August 2023 at PunnamadaLake, Alappuzha was a huge success with high-level participation. In the 69thedition of NTBR, 72 Vallams (boats) participated in a total of 9 categories butthe highlight of the tournament was the race of Chundan Vallams (snake Boats)For the first time in the history of NTBR, 19 chundan vallams participated thistime and among these ‘Thalavadi Chundan’ was a new entrant to the regatta.‘Jawahar Thayankari Chundan’ which celebrates its golden jubilee this year (itwas launched on July 30, 1973) was the oldest participant in the race, and theywere credited for lifting the Nehru Trophy 5 times in the past. From Kumarakom,which is part of the neighboring Kottayam district, this time 5 Chundan Vallamsparticipated, a new record while considering the participation level inprevious occasions, and Alappadan Chundan was the sole representative fromErnakulam district. Veeyappuram Chudnan led by Pallathuruthy boat club became the winners ofNTBR 2023 in an exciting final race, while Champakulam Chundan guided by theKumarakam Town Boat Club ended as runner-up. UBC Kainakary’s Nadubhagam Chundanreached third place According to official sources, more than 60 foreign students from 15different countries watched NTBR this time through the foreign affairsministry’s ‘Know-India’ program. They were from Fiji, Guyana, Malaysia.,France, Israel, South Africa, Jamaica, Kenya, Mauritius, Myanmar, New Zealand,Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Zimbabwe, and Belgium, Latest edition of NTBRundoubtedly revived the local tourism segment as all homestays and hotels intown area fully occupied during boat race days. The top 9 teams from the previous NTBR edition have qualified for theopening round of this season. The season now extended till December for CBL andother local boat races may provide exciting moments for boat race lovers in thestate.