Payippad Boat Race

The Payipad Boat Race is perhaps the oldest boat race of Kerala. The accurate historical evidence is not available. However, the tradition of the Payipad Boat Race is as old as the Haripad Sri Subrahmanya Swami Temple itself. The Haripad temple is believed to have been consecrated in the 16th Century.

The Legend behind this boat race festival is an interesting one. The residence of Haripad Village decided to build a temple. It was then that all the land lords, at the same time got the information regarding the existence of an idol in their

dreams. The four-handed  idol (Chathurbahu) which had been used by Parasuram (there is the famous legend on the birth of Kerala associated with Parasuram) for Poojas, was deposited in the kayamkulam lake. In obedience to this vision, the land lords along with divers and swimmers from the village rowed to the lake but how could they locate the idol in such a huge lake?. They had sign of pooja flowers in a whirlpool in the lake and retrieved the idol at Kandalloor in Govindamuttom backwaters (Kayal) . The Subrahmanya idol was brought to shore at “Nelpurakadavu” accompanied by the several country boats of the locality in great fanfare.There is a tradition that this idol was kept for public viewing half an hour (Ara Nazhika) at this place under a Banyan tree which belonged to one Christian family named Tharakanmar. And even today there exist a small temple at this place known as “Ara Nazhika Ambalam”.