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 The renowned Champakulam Moolam Boat Race is the forerunner of Kerala’s backwater snake boat races. Conducted on the sacred and mythological River Pampa at Alappuzha on the Moolam asterism in month of Midhunam (usually June-July), the Champakulam Moolam Boat Race is celebrated as a religious ceremony in commemoration of the day of the installation of the deity at the Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Temple.
The Champakulam Moolam boat race, the first to be held in the backwaters during the season, draws a lot of devotees as well as tourists. In addition to Chundan Vallams (beaked boats), other traditional boats like Irruuttikuthi, Veppu, Ody, Swan, and Churulan too take part in the snake boat races. Rife with the spirit of competition, the Vallam Kali folk songs add to the aura of this grand boat race.
The origin of the spectacular Champakulam Moolam Boat Race goes back to1545 AD and is a story of the religious tolerance in ancient Kerala. The main protagonists were the king of Chempakassery, the Champakulam Kalloorkad Church and a Christian family called Mappilassery. An idol of Sri Krishna had to be transported through dense bandit-infested forests to a newly built temple. The Chempakassery King ordered the priests carrying the idol to seek shelter during the night at the house of Mappilassery Ittithomman, a Syrian Christian and well-wisher of the King. Mappilassery Ittithomman unhesitatingly sheltered the idol and the persons it with all due respect. The next day, the king reached Mappilassery and after some ceremonial rituals witnessed by large crowds, left for Ambalappuzha with the idol on a boat through the River Champakulam, accompanied by Mappilassery Ittithomman. The boat carrying the idol was greeted by church bells and fireworks when it reached Kalloorkad Church jetty. After the idol reached Ambalappuzha, the celebrated Brahmin priest Vilwamangalathu Swamiyar installed it at the temple on the Moolam asterism of Midhunam. Thus the Champakulam Moolam boat race continues to be held on that day in memory of this incident.
In 1613 AD, when the Mappilassery House was being reconstructed, the King sent word to the Ittithomman family that the area where the idol had been placed was considered a 'devasthanam ' or sacred place and was to be specially protected and used only as a place of worship. A lamp known as ‘Vazhakoombu Vilakku’ made of rare metals was given to the family to be kept at this holy place and even today the lamp is kept burning, signifying its vital role in the ‘Moolakazhcha’ ritual on the day of the boat race.
The snake boat Pattara Chundan of the Kumarakom Town Boat Club won the Rajapramukhan trophy of the renowned Champakuma Moolam Boat Race, 2008 held on the sacred River Pampa on June 19. Headed by Mr. John Alukka, the Pattara Chundan competed in the final along with two other snake boats. ‘Sree Ganesh’ of Alappuzha Town Boat Club, led by Shaiju K. John, won the second prize and ‘Jawahar Thayankari’ oared by the Kollam ITL Town Boat Club, led by Mr. Sunil Joseph Vaisyambhagam won the third prize. Nine snake boats participated in three heats prior to the final.
In the division of ‘Aranmula Palliyodams’, Mangalam, Kadapra Palli of Kadapra Chaakkamar Karayogam, and Muthavazhi of Muthavazhi 1723rd Number Karayogam won the first second and third prizes respectively. In Women’s Thekkan Ody division, ‘Company Vallam’ led by Ms. Sudharma Sukumaran of Kainakari Vanitha Boat Club, ‘Kattil Thekkethil’, led by Ms. Geetha Reji Kochamparambu of Nedumudi CDS Sangham and ‘Chellikkadan’, led by Ms. Sindhu Sajeevan of Alappuzha Vanitha Boat Club won the first, second and third prizes respectively.
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