First Snake Boat Race
Sunday, 5th September 2010
Singapore's first snake boat race took place at Jurong Lake Park. More than 1,200 members of the Malayalee community and 180 rowers gathered to celebrate Onam, the biggest festival in the Indian state of Kerala. Snake Boat Race is a popular Vallam Kali (boat play/game) held in the Punnamada Lake near Alappuzha, Kerala, India. Vallam Kali or Vallamkali literally means boat play/game, but can be translated to boat race in English. And Chundan Vallams literally means Snake Boats which are long canoes made of wood. Hence the race is also known as Snake Boat Race in English.