Payippadan chundan won the 66th Kerala Nehru Trophy Boat Race 2018 held at Punnamada Lake in Alleppey district on Saturday. The race that began at 2:30 pm was inaugurated by Kerala Governor P Satasivam. Popular South Indian actor Allu Arjun and his wife Sneha Reddy were chief guests at the event. Mahadevika Thekkathil secured second place and Ayaparambu Pandi came third. Champakkulam got the fourth position in the race.

Payippadan of Pallathuruthi Boat Club is winning the Nehru trophy for the fourth time. Gabriel of Village Boat Club, Edathua, won the losers final. P.G. Karippuzha of Parippu Boat Club won in Veppu B grade while Ambalakkadavan of Nattakam Boat Club wins in Veppu A grade. Thuruthithara of T.B.C Cochin Town won the Iruttukthi A grade final. Kodimatha of Malarvadi Boat Club came first in the churulan category, while Gothuruthu Puthran of TBC, Cochin Town won Iruttukuthi B Grade finals. Kerala Nehru Trophy Boat Race 2018: Origin, History & Other Facts About the Spectacular Event in Alleppey.

And Cheriya Pandithan wins Iruttukuthi C-Grade Heats-2 category.  81 boats including 25 snake boats participated in the backwaters of Vembanad lake today. The boat race is associated with former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's visit to Alappuzha (Alleppey) in 1952. Vallam Kali belongs to a community from the Kuttanadu region. Called Chudan Vallam, these boats are generally 120 feet long and can accommodate 100-120 rowers.

This year's event was attended by the members of Indian Super League team Kerala Blasters, Union Minister of State for Culture and Thomas Isaac, Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran, Civil Supplies Minister P Thilothaman, Public Works Minister G Sudhakaran, Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala. In a first, transgender people were deployed as volunteers to make arrangements at the pavilion.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 10, 2018 07:47 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).