Practising as one to conquer the waves

TRIPUNITHURA: With the pulsating rhythm of melodious boat songs, the young and energetic rowers of Amrutha Boat Club, South Paravoor, are all set to join the race. The rowers are an excited lot as they are practising for the Internationally acclaimed Nehru Trophy Boat Race, to be held on August 13 on the Punnamada lake. In the coming days of ‘Karkkidakam’, the nostalgic tunes of boat songs will reverberate along with the cool breeze blowing softly over the tidal waves of Vembanad lake. All the members of the club are fisher folk. As fishing is their main occupation, these youngsters work the whole night to earn their livelihood and the entire day is dedicated to rigorous practice.The routine will be the same, till the practise session is over,  said the club members. The untiring practice has increased their confidence.For the members of the club, the decade-long boat race mania started after they participated in Iruttu Kuthi grade boat race in which they had won a hat-trick in Nehru Trophy.Around three years ago the club members decided to aim the ultimate goal, participating in the snake boat category. This year, they are participating  in the prestigious snake boat, ‘Cheruthana Chundan’. There will be rowers in the boat, “Of the 104 members, five leading rowers are ‘Amarakkaar’, who will stand at the rear end of the snake boat. By waving the oars in the air they will transmit the spirit of the boat race to the viewers. 87 trained and experienced rowers will row in tune with the rhythm. (beating the boat with a wooden plank).Beside this basic beat, a seven-member team will control the rhythm of rowing.