KOCHI: THE stage is set for this year's Gothuruth Vallam Kali, one of the most important boat races in central Kerala, which will be held on Sunday on one of the Periyar's tributaries.
Tourism Minister A C Moideen will inaugurate the competition at a function to be held at 11 am. Bishop of Kottappuram Joseph Karikkassery will bless the boats and V D Satheesan, MLA, will preside. Gothuruth Arts and Sports Club has been organising the boat race for the last 79 years as part of the festival of Holy Cross.
Meanwhile, the various boat clubs which will be vying for honours in the prestigious competition are currently giving final touches to their preparations. 'Thaniyan'of Vadakkan Brothers and 'Thuruthipuram' of SBC will compete in the first race in the Iruttukuthy category. 'St Antony' of TBC Cochin Town Boat Club is the bye team in the first heats.
The second heats will feature 'Hanuman I' of TBC Thuruthipuram and 'Saravanan' of Piravi Boat Club Manjanikkadu in Vypeen, with 'St Sebastian' of BCN Naduvilakkara being the bye team.
In the first race in the Iruttukuthi B category, 'Kashinadhan' of TBC Cochin Town Boat Club will be pitted against 'Hanuman II' of TBC Thuruthipuram, while 'Mayilvahanan' of Oruma Boat Club Madaplathuruth will be up against 'Puthenparampan' of Omayannur Sunrise in the second race. Thykoodam TBC's 'Sree Murukan' and 'St Sebastian II' of Karuunya Boat Club Gothuruth will compete against each other in the third race while 'Cheriyapandithan' of Jim and 'Friends Gothuruth GMS' of Kurankotta BBC will vie for honours in the fourth.
Thaivamakkal from Thrissur will be presenting a music programme during the race interval.