The `Gabriel Chundan' owned by Moonuthaickal family of Edathua will be led by United Boat Club(UBC), Kainakary and the trail for the boat race will begin on Wednesday on Pampa River.
Blessen Moonuthaickal, the owner of this boat, said the boat was constructed by snake boat builder Umamaheswaran and it is the 11th snake boat of Umamaheswaran. "Our first snake boat touched waters on July 11 and we have completed the construction of this boat taking 4 months and 11 days. The total cost of this boat was Rs 61 lakh,"
Gabriel is from Moonuthaickal family which has long bonding with boat races and boats. UBC Kainakari, the 17 time winners of prestigious Nehru Trophy, will lead this snake boat and it is very exciting and we hope Gabriel will enjoy a cake walk in this race
"We have used 750 qubic `anjili' wood and 500 kg copper for the construction of this snake boat. It was in 2011, we bought first boat for taking part in Nehru boat race. But, it was a small `Odi' boat and we bought it from Karuvelitharayil. In 2013, we constructed a new `Odi' boat named Moonuthaickal. In 2016, we constructed a new snake boat. My father Achankunju Moonuthaickal is an active participant of boat races. He is the first Amaram of Jesus Boat Club. So boat race is always in our blood and thoughts. My father's elder brother Babichan Chettikattil and his friend K P Francis also have partnership in this snake boat. Our aim is to enable our first Chundan to lift the silver trophy of Nehru Trophy Boat Race at any cost,''
No comments:
Post a Comment