Boat races are held in connection with Onam, the harvest festival in August/September. Scores of long snake boats and other smaller crafts participate in these events. The largest team sport in the world, the snake boat races are preceded by colourful water parades. Thousands of people crowd the water’s edge to cheer the huge black crafts as they slice through the waters to a spectacular finish.It is indeed amazing to watch oarsmen, at least a hundred in one boat, slice their way through the waters to the rhythm of their own full throated singing. Famous boat races held during Onam (August/September) conducted in the Alappuzha region. Champakulam Moolam Boat Race, Aranmula Uthrattadi Vallamkali, Payippad Jalotsavam, Nehru Trophy Boat Race.
Special note to Aranmula: 50km from Kottayam, Aranmula is the site of the splendid Onam festival boat races, usually in early September. These races unlike the more sporting Nehru Trophy race at Alappuzha in August are essentially religious, based on a temple festival. Caparisoned elephants with beaded umbrellas, processions of decorated floats, and highly ornate boats make this a lovely event to witness. Aranmula is also the centre of bell metal mirror crafts known as Aranmula kannadi. In and around Aranmula, many foreigners from France, Germany and from many other countries are living. They are interested in learning many art forms of Kerala like Kathakali and Mohiniyattam.