Chundan vallam ('beaked boat'), known outside Kerala as Kerala snake boats, are one of the icons of Kerala culture used in the Vallamkali or boat race.
Snake boats during the Aranmula Uthrattathi Boat RaceSnake BoatPreparing the snake boat
Constructed according to specifications taken from the Sthapatya Veda, an ancient treatise for the building of wooden boats, these boats vary from 100 to 138 feet in length.[1] With the rear portion rising to a height of about 20 feet, and a long tapering front portion, it resembles a snake with its hood raised. Hulls are built of planks precisely 83 feet in length and six inches wide. The boats are a good example of ancient vishwakarma' prowess in naval architecture.
Traditions and customsedit
Traditionally each boat belongs to a village, and the villagers worship that boat like a deity. Only men are allowed to touch the boat, and to show respect they should be barefooted. To make the boat slippery while in the water and to reduce absorption of water and thereby reduce the resistance of the hull, it is oiled with a mixture of fish oil, the ash of coconut shells, and eggs. Repair work is done annually by the village carpenter.
Capacity and usageedit
Traditionally a boat will be commanded by a village leader (kaarnavan or karanaadhan) with first adanayampu,[clarification needed] and under him there will be three main paddlers who control the movement of the boat with a 12-foot-long (3.7 m) main rudder-oar (adanayampu). Sitting two to a row along the length of the boat, there will be 64 paddlers, representing 64 art forms (or on occasion 128 paddlers). They row in rhythm of the vanchipattu ('boat[man's] song'). There will be around 25 singers in a row at the middle between the paddlers. In the middle of the second half of the boat is a platform for eight people to stand from where the cantor will lead the song. They represent the Ashtadikpalakas (Devas or gods who guard the eight directions).[2]
See alsoedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chundan Vallam.
^Desk, thREAD (4 September 2016). "The snake-boat charmers". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
^"Chundan Vallam (India) - Traditional Sports". www.traditionalsports.org. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
January 01, 1970
chundan, vallam, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, february, . This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Chundan vallam news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2015 Learn how and when to remove this template message Chundan vallam beaked boat known outside Kerala as Kerala snake boats are one of the icons of Kerala culture used in the Vallamkali or boat race Snake boats during the Aranmula Uthrattathi Boat Race Snake Boat Preparing the snake boat Contents 1 Naval architecture 2 Traditions and customs 3 Capacity and usage 4 See also 5 ReferencesNaval architecture editConstructed according to specifications taken from the Sthapatya Veda an ancient treatise for the building of wooden boats these boats vary from 100 to 138 feet in length 1 With the rear portion rising to a height of about 20 feet and a long tapering front portion it resembles a snake with its hood raised Hulls are built of planks precisely 83 feet in length and six inches wide The boats are a good example of ancient vishwakarma prowess in naval architecture Traditions and customs editTraditionally each boat belongs to a village and the villagers worship that boat like a deity Only men are allowed to touch the boat and to show respect they should be barefooted To make the boat slippery while in the water and to reduce absorption of water and thereby reduce the resistance of the hull it is oiled with a mixture of fish oil the ash of coconut shells and eggs Repair work is done annually by the village carpenter Capacity and usage editTraditionally a boat will be commanded by a village leader kaarnavan or karanaadhan with first adanayampu clarification needed and under him there will be three main paddlers who control the movement of the boat with a 12 foot long 3 7 m main rudder oar adanayampu Sitting two to a row along the length of the boat there will be 64 paddlers representing 64 art forms or on occasion 128 paddlers They row in rhythm of the vanchipattu boat man s song There will be around 25 singers in a row at the middle between the paddlers In the middle of the second half of the boat is a platform for eight people to stand from where the cantor will lead the song They represent the Ashtadikpalakas Devas or gods who guard the eight directions 2 See also edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chundan Vallam Vallam kali Aranmula Boat Race Aranmula Kannadi Kallada Boat Race Dragon boat Waka Swan boat racing Nouka BaichReferences edit Desk thREAD 4 September 2016 The snake boat charmers The Hindu ISSN 0971 751X Retrieved 11 October 2020 Chundan Vallam India Traditional Sports www traditionalsports org Retrieved 11 October 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chundan vallam amp oldid 1107530193, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
