Onam 2025: 5 things to know about Kerala`s snake boat race

Onam: 5 interesting facts about Kerala’s snake boat race Pic: AFP Mid-Day Lifestyle By Raaina Jain Published Sep 01, 2025 [{ "selector": ".imaoe-a", "duration": "1000ms", "fill": "forwards", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(-309px)", "opacity": "1"}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": "1"} ] }]

The snake boat race is called ‘Vallam Kalli’ in Malayalam, which literally translates to boat play/game. Pic: AFP [{ "selector": ".imaoe-a", "duration": "1000ms", "fill": "forwards", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(-309px)", "opacity": "1"}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": "1"} ] }]

The race features snake boats that are nearly 100 feet long, traditionally called ‘Chundan Vallams’. Pic: AFP [{ "selector": ".imaoe-a", "duration": "1000ms", "fill": "forwards", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(-309px)", "opacity": "1"}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": "1"} ] }]

The boats can seat around 100 rowers at a time, creating a magnificent spectacle when the race starts. Pic: AFP [{ "selector": ".imaoe-a", "duration": "1000ms", "fill": "forwards", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(-309px)", "opacity": "1"}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": "1"} ] }]

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