Alappuzha: Aroma Chundan has won the 72nd Nehru Trophy Boat Race at Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha after a thrilling final that was decided in a photo finish. The victory gave the newly formed Aroma Boat Club a historic success in one of Kerala’s most famous sporting events and marked a remarkable rise for a boat that is competing in its debut season.
The final brought together four of the fastest chundan vallams of the day, Melpadam Chundan, Nadubhagam Chundan, Veeyapuram Chundan and Aroma Chundan. From the moment the boats entered the final stretch, the race turned into a close battle, with the crews maintaining a powerful rhythm as they pushed their long boats through the water.
Aroma Chundan eventually crossed the finish line first, according to the latest race report, with the result requiring a photo finish to determine the winner. The narrow margin underlined just how competitive this year’s Nehru Trophy was. The rowers in all four boats fought until the final strokes, leaving little room for error.
For Aroma Chundan, the victory is particularly special because the boat is making its first appearance in the Nehru Trophy. The team had already announced itself as a strong new force in Kerala’s traditional boat racing scene by winning the Champakulam Moolam Boat Race earlier this year. Its success at Punnamada has now taken that impressive start to an even bigger stage.
The 72nd Nehru Trophy attracted 71 boats across different categories, including 22 chundan vallams. The increase in the number of snake boats from last year added to the competition and created strong interest among fans of vallamkali. The race also saw greater participation in some of the women’s categories.
The four boats that reached the final had taken different routes through the preliminary heats. Melpadam Chundan and Nadubhagam Chundan entered the final with strong performances, while defending champion Veeyapuram Chundan was also among the leading contenders. Aroma Chundan secured its place in the final after competing against several experienced boats.
Veeyapuram Chundan had won the Nehru Trophy in 2025, ending a long wait for the Kainakary community. The boat was therefore considered one of the important contenders again this year. Melpadam Chundan also came into the competition with a strong record, while Nadubhagam remained one of the traditional names associated with the history of the race.
The Nehru Trophy is not simply a boat race for the people of Alappuzha. It is a major cultural celebration that brings together villages, boat clubs, families and thousands of spectators along the banks of Punnamada Lake. The long chundan vallams can carry large teams of rowers, who must move their oars together with remarkable timing and coordination.
The sound of traditional boat songs, drums and cheering crowds created a festive atmosphere around the lake. Spectators gathered from different parts of Kerala and beyond to watch the boats compete for the prestigious trophy.
The event also attracted prominent political leaders and public figures. Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan inaugurated the event, while Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat were among the dignitaries associated with the programme.
The race has its roots in an event held in Alappuzha in 1952 during the visit of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. He was deeply impressed by the boat race and later sent a silver replica of a snake boat as a trophy. The competition eventually became known as the Nehru Trophy Boat Race and grew into one of Kerala’s most important annual sporting traditions.
This year’s result adds another memorable chapter to that history. Aroma Chundan has moved from being a new entrant to becoming the reported champion of the prestigious race in a remarkably short period.
The dramatic photo finish also captured the spirit of Kerala’s vallamkali tradition, where victory can come down to the final few strokes. For Aroma Boat Club, the triumph at Punnamada is not only a major sporting achievement but also the beginning of what could become a long and successful journey in Kerala’s famous boat racing tradition.