Lonely_Planet_India_-_October_2019

ROWING THUNDER

Alappuzha, Kerala

The iconic Nehru Trophy Boat Race,

held annually in the backwaters

of Alappuzha, is considered

the pinnacle of rowing glory in India.

It’s an epic event, with boats of varying

sizes competing in different categories

of races. Each boat belongs to a village,

and the villagers worship the boat like

a deity. To reduce absorption of water

and thereby reduce the resistance of the

hull, it is oiled with a mixture of fish oil,

the ash of coconut shells, and eggs.

Malcolm Stephens

is a corporate consultant

from Mumbai.

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42 October 2019