ALAPPUZHA: Marking the beginning of the another boat race season, the Champakulam Moolam boat race will be held in the Pampa River at Chambakulam at 1.30 pm on Wednesday.
The ritual preceding the race will be held at Madathil Temple, Mappilasseril House and Kalloorkad Forane Church at 11.30 am, following which five snake boats and 19 small boats in churulan, veppu, oudi and iruttukuthy categories will participate the race.
The long-awaited races will begin at 3 pm with boats, Champakulam, Nadubhagom, Vellamkulangara, St Pious Tenth and Pulimkunnu participating in the snake boat race.
A cultural procession was held at Champakulam, as part of the boat race, on Tuesday launching from Fr Thomas Perurkara Memorial Central School ground.
The procession concluded at Champakulam bus stand, which witnessed the participation of more than 800 students from various schools. The myth which stands behind the boat race is in the memory of the idol installation of the Ambalappuzha Temple by the Champakassery King along with various communities.
Sub-collector D Balamurali flagged off the procession. District panchayat member Jacob Abraham, Kuttanad tahasildar P V Sajeev, race committee members K Mohanlal, A B Murali and Prasad Ramankari participated in the procession.
Kodikunnil Suresh MP will inaugurate the cultural meeting. District panchayat president Prathiba Hari will speak. Sports Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan will distribute trophies to the winners.
Tourism Minister A P Anilkumar will inaugurate the boat race.
Thomas Chandy MLA will preside over the inaugural function. District Collector N Padmakumar will hoist the flag.