Aranmula Boat Race
| Aranmula Boat Race Aranmula Vallam Kali | |
|---|---|
Aranmula Uthrattathi Boat Race | |
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Festival |
| Date | Utthrattathi Nakshatra in the Malayalam Calendar month of Chingam (/ accordingly) |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Venue | Pampa River, Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple |
| Locations | Aranmula Pathanamthitta District, Kerala |
| Coordinates | 9°19′40″N 76°41′18″E / 9.32778°N 76.68833°E |
| Country | India |
| Inaugurated | 1972 |
| Previous event | 09 September 2025 |
| Next event | 27 September 2026 |
| Participants | Currently 52 palliyodams |
| Organised by | Palliyoda Seva Sangham |
| Website | aranmulavallamkali |
The Aranmula Boat Festival is one of the oldest river boat festivals in the Indian state of Kerala. It is held annually during the Onam season (August–September) at Aranmula, a village near the Sree Parthasarathy Temple, which is dedicated to Lord Krishna and Arjuna, in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala. The festival is known for its ceremonial procession of snake boats (Palliyodams), which glide in pairs along the Pampa to the rhythm of traditional boat songs known as Vanchipattu. The oarsmen, dressed in white mundu and turbans, row in unison to the chants and drumbeats, creating a vibrant spectacle. Each boat is decorated with golden lace at the prow, a flag, and an ornamental umbrella at the centre, adding to the pageantry of the event.
Although the festival has ancient origins, snake boat races were officially introduced to its programme in 1972, giving rise to the modern name Aranmula Boat Race. The event draws thousands of spectators to the riverbanks every year. In 2019, a total of 52 snake boats participated in the festival.