KARAIKAL: Cutting swiftly through the Arasalar river, catamarans powered by skilled fishermen set the pace for the last day of the Karaikal Carnival 2026 on Sunday, drawing crowds along the Karaikal Beach Road.
The event was jointly organised by the Department of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare of Puducherry, Karaikal District Administration and the Tourism Department. The race was held along the Arasalar River, starting opposite the BSNL office on Karaikal Beach Road and concluding about 1,000 metres downstream.
A total of ten fishing villages from Karaikal participated in the competition, with one boat representing each village. The participating villages were Mandapathur, Kalikuppam, Akkampettai, Keelakasakudimedu, Kilinjalmedu, Karaikalmedu, Karukkalacheri, Pattinacheri, Vadakku Vanjoor, and Madhagadi. Each boat was operated by three fishermen -- two rowing with paddles and one steering with a pole, demonstrating speed, coordination, and traditional skills that drew the attention of spectators.
The race was flagged off by the Minister for Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs and Art and Culture, PRN Thirumurugan, along with Sub-Collector M Pooja. Deputy Director of the Department of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare, J Natarajan, was also present.
In the competition, Kalikuppam village secured first place, followed by Mandapathur in second place and Akkampettai in third place. Cash prizes of `15,000, `10,000, and `5,000, respectively, were awarded to the winning teams. Consolation prizes were also distributed to the participating teams.