Kallada Jalotsavam to be held on September 23

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The 54th Kallada Jalotsavam and the second leg of the 6th Champions Boat League (CBL), organised by the State Tourism department, will be held on the Kallada river on Wednesday (September 23, 2026), said Ullas Kovoor, MLA, during a press meet held here on Saturday.

Tracing its roots back 53 years, the Kallada Jalotsavam originally commenced near the railway bridge close to the Veerabhadraswamy temple. However, the event had to be temporarily suspended due to the 2018 floods and the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the CBL resumed after the pandemic, small boat competitions were omitted, which gradually reduced local community participation. Subsequently, in 2024, Mundrothuruthu grama panchayat and the Kallada Jalotsavam Committee successfully revived the traditional festival on the 28th day of Onam, with the Jalotsavam and the CBL initially being held on separate days.

Later, Kodikunnil Suresh, MP, and Mr. Kovoor held discussions with Minister for Tourism and Culture P.C. Vishnunadh, leading to a decision to merge both events on the 28th day of Onam. Following this, collaborative meetings involving the Tourism department, the Kallada Jalotsavam Committee, representatives from three local grama panchayats in Kallada, boat club officials, and political party members finalised the joint hosting. Marking a milestone for the event, nine snakeboats (chundan vallam) that triumphed in the Nehru Trophy Boat Race alongside over 15 small traditional boats (veppu and iruttukuthi categories) will participate in the competition, making it the highest number of racing boats ever gathered on the Kallada river.

The function will be inaugurated by Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala. Mr. Kovoor will preside over the event. Mr. Vishnunadh will grace the occasion as the chief guest, while Mr. Suresh will distribute the prizes to the winners.

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