Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple and Onam Boat Race Ritual

Aranmula in Pathanamthitta district is home to the famous Parthasarathy temple and the Aranmula Uthrattathi Vallamkali, the oldest snake boat race in Kerala. Unlike competitive races at Alappuzha, the Aranmula boat race is a votive offering — a religious ritual associated with the Onam and Thiruvonam festivals. Eight to ten snake boats called palliyodams, each elaborately decorated with brass carvings and silk parasols, row in a ritual procession rather than a race, offering the boat to the deity. The palliyodams belong to local aristocratic families (tharavads) who maintain hereditary responsibility for the ritual. Thousands of pilgrims witness the event annually, and the Aranmula snake boat is a registered Geographical Indication product.