Nehru Trophy 2025: Kerala’s Famous Boat Race
The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is Kerala’s most famous water event. In 2025, 21 snakeboats will compete on the backwaters of Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha. Each boat carries nearly 100 men, including 80–90 oarsmen, who row in rhythm to win the silver trophy shaped like a snakeboat.
For villages in Kerala’s Kuttanad region, this race is more than sport—it is pride and tradition.
Training for the Race
In Kainakary village, rower Pradeep Kumar and his team from United Boat Club (UBC) have been training for 45 days. “We practise twice a day—once in the morning and once in the evening. Together, it adds up to about four hours daily,” he said. UBC wants to win the Nehru Trophy again after more than a decade.
The defending champions, Pallathuruthy Boat Club (PBC), are also preparing hard. “Our rowers wake up at 6 am, warm up, do gym training, and then practise rowing both morning and evening. All members live together in the camp until race day,” said Vivekanandan, the club’s treasurer.
High Costs of Participation
Preparing for the Nehru Trophy is expensive. PBC spends about Rs 40,000 every day just on food for its 125 members. In 2024, the club spent Rs 1.25 crore, and in 2025, the cost may cross Rs 1.5 crore.
But the prize money is only Rs 9 lakh (around Rs 6.3 lakh after tax). “The cash award does not cover even a small part of the expenses. We depend on sponsorships, donations, and support from villagers,” said Abhilash Ashokan, the club’s secretary.
A Tradition Since 1952
The Nehru Trophy began in 1952 to mark Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s visit to Kerala. Since then, it has become the most popular boat race in the state. Families once listened to live commentary on the radio, and today lakhs of fans watch on TV and social media.
Over the years, UBC Kainakary has won the trophy 12 times, while Karichal Chundan holds the record for the most wins by a boat.
The Spirit of the Race
Even though costs are rising, the passion of the rowers and the excitement of the fans remain strong. Whether it is UBC aiming for a comeback or PBC chasing their sixth straight victory, the Nehru Trophy 2025 promises to be a thrilling battle on Kerala’s backwaters.
