In Kerala, the 69th edition of the famed Nehru Trophy Boat Race will be held at the picturesque Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha district today.
72 boats, including 19 Chundan Valloms or Snake Boats vying for the coveted trophy, will be participating in the boat race, held every year on the second Saturday of August.
The race will begin with the heats round of smaller boats in the morning session. The heats round of the snake boats will begin after the inaugural session, scheduled to take place this afternoon. The finals will be held in the evening. Chief Minister PInarayi Vijayan will inagurate the event.
Kerala High Court Chief Justice Ashish K Desai, and Southern Air Command's Commander-in-Chief Air Marshal Balakrishnan Manikandan are among the dignitaries scheduled to attend. A 60-member diaspora youth, currently visiting the state as part of the Know India Programme of the Ministry of External Affairs will be witnessing the event.
Women participating in the race have been provided track suites, as wearing traditional sarees has been found disadvantageous to swim, in the event of a boat capsize.
