The exhibition race was held after Rahul expressed his desire to witness the race that once thrilled his great-grandfather. Jawaharlal Nehru. It was after a trip to Kuttanad in a houseboat during his Bharat Jodo Yatra that Rahul participated in the exhibition race. The race, which includes three snake boats, begins at 3:50 pm.
Rahul takes off his shoes before entering the snake boat – Naduvileparamban, rowed by the oarsmen of the NCDC boat club, Kumarakom. Secretary General of AICC KC Venugopal also accompanied Rahul on the snake boat. Rahul rowed to the rhythm of ‘vanchippattu’, and his boat finished ahead of Aanari Chundan, who finished second, and Vellamkulangara, who finished third.
“When we all work together in perfect harmony, there’s nothing we can’t accomplish,” Rahul tweeted after the race.
The first snake boat race in Kuttanad was said to be an impromptu race in 1952, held in honor of then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. He started a trip from Kottayam by boat to Alappuzha, where he was warmly received by snake boat. A race was held, and Nehru was so nervous that he jumped into the winning snake boat, forgetting all security arrangements.
Upon his return to Delhi, Nehru presented a silver trophy, a replica of a snake boat placed on a wooden abacus. The Nehru Trophy has become the most coveted prize of the Kuttanad snake boat race.
Rahul also interacted with representatives of the tourism industry and discussed issues and opportunities in the industry. Before that, he started a day interacting with the fishermen, listening to their problems. They shared various issues such as rising fuel prices, dwindling fish stocks, lack of social welfare policies and educational opportunities with Rahul.
