Edayaranmula, Thottappuzhasserry win boat race

By Our Staff Reporter

PATHANAMTHITTA, SEPT. 5. The Edayaranmula and Thottappuzhasserry palliyodams (snakeboats) have won the Mannam Trophy in the `A' and `B' group respectively in this year's snakeboat race held as part of the Aranmula Uthrittathi Vallomkali in the waters of the Pampa river at Aranmula this afternoon.

The Nedumprayar palliyodam and the Mangalam palliyodam won the R. Sankar Trophy and the District Panchayat Trophy for the best performing snakeboats in the `A' and `B' categories in the snakeboat pageantry held earlier.

The Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting,

Ms. Sushma Swaraj, inaugurated the snakeboat pageantry held in the 1,400-metre race course of the Pampa river to celebrate the anniversary of the idol installation at the Parthasarathy Temple at Aranmula.

Ms. Swaraj, who delivered the entire text of her inaugural address in chaste Malayalam, could steal the hearts of the mammoth crowd gathered on either banks of the river to witness annual event.

The crowd response to the `Hindiwala' Union Minister's Malayalam speech was immense and they were found to have been a little bit disappointed as she wound up her crisp but pithy inaugural speech in a matter of five minutes amidst thunderous claps from the galleries and the river banks.

Earlier, the Palliyoda Seva Sanghom president, Mr. K.V. Sambadevan, had submitted a project report on a Rs. 16-crore bridge-cum-regulator project in the Pampa river at Aranmula. The proposed project was aimed at maintaining an optimum water level in the race course so as ensure the smooth conduct of the annual event.

Ms. Swaraj, who promised all help in getting Central assistance for the project, said that she would hand over the project report to the Union Minister for Tourism, Mr. Jagmohan, for immediate consideration.

The Union Minister of State for Railways, Mr. O. Rajagopal, presided over the inaugural function.

The snakeboat race that followed the pageantry was inaugurated by the Irrigation Minister, Mr. T.M. Jacob. Mr. Ramesh Chennithala, Mr. Francis George, both MPs, Ms. Malethu Saraladevi, Mr. K.K. Nair and Mr. K.K. Shaju, all MLAs, the district panchayat president, Mr. Mathew Kulathumkal, the Palliyoda Seva Sanghom president, Mr. K.V. Sambadevan, were among those who addressed the meet.

Prof. Thulaseedharan Nair of the Kozhencherry St. Thomas College and Prof. Kadammanitta Vasudevan Pillai were the judges of snakeboat pageantry and race in which 31 palliyodams took part.

The decorated `palliyodams' in a procession in the Pampa river and the Indian Navy's helicopter show above them as part of the Uthrittathi Vallomkali at Aranmula on Wednesday.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Prasar Bharati Board to be reconstituted
Next     : Onam Week fete ends amid tight security