Nehru Trophy Boat Race begins with record Chundan entries and prize money surge

The 72nd Nehru Trophy Boat Race kicked off Saturday morning at Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha, with heats for smaller boat categories wrapping up by afternoon and the prized Chundan snake boat heats now under way.

As many as 71 boats are competing across multiple categories this year, including 22 Chundan vallams—one more than last year's field. The Chundan category features six heats, with only the four fastest boats advancing to the Nehru Trophy final. Winners in the smaller boat classes—Iruttukuthi C, Iruttukuthi B and Veppu A—will be decided on finishing times alone, with those heats having begun around 11 a.m..

Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan is scheduled to formally inaugurate the event at 2 p.m..

Women rowers and new management

The Thekkanodi Kettu category, in which women row the boats, has drawn four entries this year compared with just one in 2025. For the first time, the conduct of the Nehru Trophy Boat Race has been entrusted to an event management group, which has introduced a colour theme and promised a more professional and colourful makeover for the iconic water festival.

Defending champions face stiffer stakes

Veeyapuram Chundan, rowed by the Village Boat Club, Kainakary, will be looking to defend its crown after emerging victorious last year. The steep increase in prize money has added further spice to the contest: the cash reward for winning teams has been raised to ₹25 lakh from ₹5 lakh last year.

Excitement has hit a crescendo along the lake banks as fans wait to see who will wrest the coveted trophy this year.

Source: The Hindu