'Uthruttathy' Boat Race from Sep 16

Pathanamthitta, Sep 15 (UNI) The famous 'Uthruttathy Snake-Boat festival' will be held in River Pampa, near Parthasarathy temple at Aranmula, tomorrow.

Union Minister of state for Sports and Youth Affairs Manohar Singh Gill would inaugurate the regatta at a function to be held at Sathra Kadavu. The Aranmula Water Carnival is considered to be a religious offering to the presiding deity at the Parthasarathy temple. Hence, it is famous as a celebration of camaraderie and the festive mood in rhytmic rowing.

Law and Youth Affairs Minister M Vijayakumar would preside over the inaugural function. A total of 41 snake-boats called ''Palliyodams'' in local parlance will participate in the pegeantry and the subsequent race. Snake-boats are categorised as 'A' batch with 28 and 'B' batch with 13.

The pageantry of snake-boats would begin at 1330 hrs and the race would follow. The winners in both categories would be presented with Mannam Trophies by NSS General Secretary P K Narayana Panicker.

Poet O N V Kurup would recieve this year's Ramapurath Warrier award comprising Rs 111,11 and a citation from Water Resources Minister N K Premachandran.

A souvenir brought up to mark the event would be released by Transport Minister Mathew T Thomas.

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