'Melukkara' and 'Mangalam' lift Mannam Trophies in boat race

Pathanamthitta, Sep 9 (UNI) In the Aranmula Uthrittathy snake-boat race held in river Pampa today, 'Melukkara' and 'Mangalam' lifted the coveted Mannam Trophies under ''A'' batch and ''B'' batch respectively.

In the ''A'' batch, 'Venpala' won the second place while 'Keezhvanmazhi' finished third.

'Poovathoor-East' and 'Vanmazhy' finished second and third among the ''B'' batch snake-boat race.

The annual snake-boat regatta organised by the Palliyoda Seva Sangham was inaugurated by Kerala Water Resources Minister N K Premachandran by flagging off the colourful pageantry of the 37 participating ''Palliyodams.'' Speaking on the occasion, he said steps would be taken to include the Aranmula snake boat festival in the purview of eco-tourism and pilgrim-tourism.

The perennial problem of low water level in the river Pampa during the boat race would be addressed on a war-footing, Mr Premachandran said.

Travancore Devaswom Board President G Raman Nair chaired the inaugural function. Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan gave away the trophies to the winners. Transport Minister Mathew T Thomas, Prof P J Kurian and Mr Chengara Surendran, MPs, and MLAs K C Rajagopal and Raju Abraham were also present on the occasion.

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