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C louded sky, gusty wind, pitter-patter rain rushing to meet the thirsty mother earth accompanied by the flashes of lightning and thunder- yes, the stage is set for monsoon boat races in Kerala. As every living being tries to find shelter to hide from the nature's splash, the participants of the boat races armed with their ores invade the waters to sweat it out. The cloths worn by them become second skin dripping with a mixture of sweat and rain. It seems the Mother Nature witnessing the tireless practice of the racing crew encourages them with thunderclaps and wipes their sweat with rain. For the people of Kerala, Karkidakam (July-August) is natively called Panja Masom or the month of famine and dullness. But to the folks of Kuttanadu in Alleppey district, it is full of excitement. Every year on the second Saturday of August the most exciting regatta, the Nehru Cup Snakeboat Race, takes place. Though most of the people there find their homes half submerged during the season, their spirit is never dampened. Otherwise routine and uneventful, life in Kuttanadu area comes alive months before the event. Racing crews tirelessly practise fired by the competitive spirit that motivates them on the great say.
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