Aranmula Boat Race, Ponmudi, Kerala India

 This is a great show to watch, which is organized around the renowned Krishna temple of Aaranmula. This temple is erected at the banks of Pampa River. The idol of Lord Krishna as a great charioteer of Arjuna during battle of Mahabharata in Kurukshetra is said to have been originally installed by 5 Pandava brothers. 

The Aranmula Boat Race the oldest river boat fiesta in Kerala, the south western State of India is held during Onam (August-September). It takes place at Aranmula, near a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Krishna and Arjuna. The snake boats move in pairs to the rhythm of full-throated singing and shouting watched by an exciting crowd.  In 1972, snake boat races were also added to the program of the festival. Thousands of people gather on the banks of the river Pampa to watch the snake boat races. In 2009 forty one snake boats or chundan vallams had participated in the festival. The oarsmen sing traditional boat songs and wear white mundu and turbans. The golden lace at the head of the boat, the flag and the ornamental umbrella at the center make it a show of pageantry too.

The annual procession of the sacred jewels of Ayyappan that is organized from Pandalam and up to Sabrimala temple of lord Ayyappa makes a brief halt over here at the temple of Aaranmula. Tourists can also glimpse the golden attire called Thanka Anki, which had been donated by Travancore kings treasured up here in this temple.  Also, numbers of aqua sports are organized here.