Kerala’s backwaters witnessed a sporting spectacle like never before as Red Bull Vallam Vali 2025 unfolded at the historic Muppalam Canal in Alappuzha. Blending the state’s two most iconic seasonal sports, Vallam Kali (traditional boat racing) and Vadam Vali (tug of war), the event brought together more than 300 rowers across multiple formats, from 100-foot-long Chundan Vallams with 80 oarsmen to compact 20-person Churlan Vallams. For the first time, audiences experienced a bold reimagining of Kerala’s heritage on water and under the rains.
The highlight of the competition came with the Row Off, a water-based tug of war between two giant snake boats. For the first time, spectators saw rival Chundan Vallams lashed together, each powered forward by 80 oars working in perfect synchronisation. The rowers’ chants echoed against the canal, which was a spectacle to watch.
Local performers lit up the festival atmosphere with Chenda Melam, while the rowers’ own Vanjippattu (boatmen’s folk songs) carried across the waters. Families and visitors thronged the banks of the Muppalam Canal, many drawn by the Onam holiday season. They turned race day into a community carnival.
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The competition itself was no less fierce. The Ashtamudi Acers emerged as the dominant force of the day, winning in both the Chundan and Churlan Vallam categories. They were trailed closely by other renowned boat clubs, including the Kuttanad Knights, Vembanad Vikings, and Punnamada Panthers, all of whom will also feature in the prestigious Nehru Trophy Boat Race in the weeks ahead. For the clubs, Vallam Vali provided not just its own laurels but a crucial test of strength and rhythm before Kerala’s biggest boat race.
With support from key partners including Reliance Smart Bazaar, Sports-Exotica, and the Nehru Trophy Boat Race Society, the event also had the backing of local tourism and heritage bodies. Hon. MLA PP Chitharanjan emphasised that Red Bull Vallam Vali would bring sustainable benefits to the community: “Red Bull Vallam Valli will make an invaluable impact on Alappuzha tourism. People coming to Alappuzha as a result of Red Bull Vallam Valli will support the local community’s economic growth, including hotels, shops, taxi, autorickshaws and even bike rentals. We see this as a great opportunity for our community. The government is supportive towards such projects. We thank Red Bull and Sports-Exotica for bringing this project to Alappuzha.”
Red Bull Vallam Vali 2025 brought Onam and modern sport together, proving once again that the rhythm of Kerala’s oars belongs not just to the past, but to the future.
