TYPES OF BOATS
The boats of Kerala are known after their shapes, sizes or purposes. The Chundaanvallam is so called because of its pointed prow. The term snake boat comes from its stern, which represents the raised, the hood of a snake and its length . The front end of this type of boat will be tapering in shape and the rear end will be very high from the water level. They have a length of about 60-65 meters and a capacity carrying hundred to hundred and ten people during the race time. The stern is majestically caparisoned and decorated with a flag and brass ornaments. Silken parasols are arrayed along the entire length of the boat. There will be almost 95 oarsman, 5 Amarakkar (Controllers) and 10 'Nilakkar' (persons supposed to enhance the vigour and enthusiasm of the articipating oarsman). It has got a resemblance to the shape of a snake, when it advances in a competition and hence became popular as snake boats. Snake boats are the traditional battle vessels of Kerala known as Chundan vallams . They were originally designed as a naval vessel used for battle.
The Race Boats "churulan vallams" are boats having a capacity for about 45 persons . They are designed as a passenger boat. But the end of these types of boats will be shaped as a Circular ring (Churul in Malayalam).
'Vaipu' vallams are boats having a passenger capacity of about 40-45 person . One end of the boat will higher than the level of the other end. These boats are originally designed as boats for preparing food while they accompany the battle vessels in olden days.
Iruttukuthy or Odi type of boats are designed for transportation during the night . The shape of the boat is suitable for speedy journey. The width of the boat is so designed to avoid friction with water while moving. In olden days these boats were supposed to be used for piracy works.
These massive boats once used for transportation of goods are now converted as house boats
These highly rhythmic songs were created to keep up the spirits of the boatsmen . The rhythm of these songs blend perfectly with the movement of the oars and to keep up devotional, mythological or relating to rustic life styles. Every snake boat has about twenty-five singers keeping time with traditional percussion instruments.
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