Payipad Boat Race

Payippad Jalotsavam is held on the Payippad Lake, which is 35 Km from Alappuzha, to commemorate the installation of deity at the Subrahmanya Swamy Temple , Harippad.
Legend says that the villagers decided to build a temple with Sree Ayyappa as the presiding deity After the temple was built, they had a vision directing them to a whirlpool in Kayamkulam Lake where they would find the idol of Sree Subramanya which was to be installed at the temple. Accordingly, the elders of the village with divers and swimmers rowed to the spot and found the idol which was escorted back ceremoniously by devotees from the entire region in colorfully.
Payipad Jalolsavam is held on Thiruvonam, Avittom and Chathayam days of the month of Chingam every year and the Boatrace is held on the Chathayam day

Nehru Trophy Boat Race at Alappuzha - Kerala

On the second saturday of August every year there occurs a grand water festival in Alleppey which has emerged as a national festival for this part of Kerala. It is the Nehru Trophy Boat Race which originated in 1952, on the occasion of the visit of the then Prime Minister of India, Pandit. Jawaharlal Nehru to Alapuzha.

In the race witnessed by Nehru, 'Nadubhagom Chundan' stood first. In the excitement of seeing the performance by the oarsmen, Jawaharlal Nehru jumped into the ‘Nadubhagam Chundan’, forgetting all security arrangements. The Prime Minister donated a silver trophy, which is a replica of a snake boat placed on a wooden abacus. The trophy bears his signature and the inscription "To the winners of the boat race, which is a unique feature of community life in Travancore - Cochin." The trophy is known as 'Nehru Trophy' later and is awarded to the winners of this boat race every year.

Nehru Trophy Boat Race has the honor of being the largest team sport in the world with each snake boat carrying a crew of rowers, cheerers, singers and steerer's numbering well over one hunderd and with more than 18 or so such boats participating it defenitly deserves the title.
This Boat Race has become so popular that a lot of tourists from different parts of the world come to see this, recently it has become a trend that people of far away land come and take part in the race, blond ladies working fast on the oars are more a delight to the spectators who cheer for them forgetting the competing local candidates. This race has thus become an integrating factor where people take part forgetting regional and racial barriers.