Aranmula Boat Race Winners List

The Aranmula Boat Race is one of the most famous traditional boat races in Kerala, India, featuring the unique Aranmula Kannadi metal mirrors as prized trophies for winners.

This traditional snake boat race is held during the Onam festival season at the Pampa River near the Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple. The race features magnificent Palliyodam boats that are over 100 feet long and can accommodate 100-125 rowers.

The winners of the Aranmula Boat Race receive the prestigious Aranmula Kannadi, a handmade metal mirror that is a traditional craft of Aranmula village. These mirrors are made using a secret metallurgical formula passed down through generations of craftsmen.

The Aranmula Kannadi is unique because it produces a reflection from the front surface rather than the back-coated surface like conventional glass mirrors. This traditional Indian product is considered auspicious and is often used in religious ceremonies and as decorative items in homes.

Each year, different teams from nearby villages compete for the honor of winning this traditional boat race and receiving the beautiful Aranmula metal mirrors as their victory prize.