The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is an annual vallam kali held in the Punnamada Lake near Alappuzha, Kerala, India. It is held on the second Saturday of August to coincide with the famous festival of Onam in Kerala. In 2023, the Nehru Trophy Boat Race was held on August 12 at the famed Punnamada Lake in Alleppey, Kerala. It'll now be held on August 10, 2024 In the 1952 event, which was inaugurated by the former Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Kavalam Chundan emerged winner and took home the first-ever Nehru Trophy.
The boat race is associated with the Onam festival in India. It is a harvest festival in Kerala.
There are boat races held in the backwaters of Kerala, elevating the charm of these water canals. These races are all about enjoyment, and most importantly about teamwork.
the festival is commemorated with boat races. In smaller communities, celebrations include special feasts, performances, dances and parties, and there are songs centred on Bon Om Touk that are commonly performed during the event.
