Praising the traditional boat races, she said they not only bring out the spirit of competition but also celebrate camaraderie and team work.
Mesmerised by the natural beauty of Kerala, president Pratibha Patil today impressed upon the need to ensure that its pristine backwaters remain pollution free and asked the state to draft a masterplan for sustainable tourism.
"Kerala has everything - beaches, misty hill stations, the backwaters, forestlands rich with a large variety of flora and fauna. It has historic monuments and a rich variety of art and culture. It's alluring beauty and serenity leaves tourists mesmerised," the president, who is on a three-day tour to Kerala, said while inaugurating the 58th historic Nehru Trophy boat race here.
To all these advantages, can be added boat race festivals to make Kerala a favoured tourist destination, she said.
The president asked the state administration to develop sustainable tourism with the help of a properly drafted master plan to boost toursim.
"Alappuzha has a special status in the tourism map of India, as a prime destination for backwater tourism. Being so, it is imperative to save its pristine natural beauty and its waterways from getting polluted," Patil said she enjoyed the popular boat races marking Onam revelry.
Praising the traditional boat races, she said they not only bring out the spirit of competition but also celebrate camaraderie and team work.
The president also extended Onam greetings to the people of Kerala. She was presented with the replica of a boat by the organisers.
The almost 3.5 hours boat race was witnessed by thousands of spectators from across the world. Sixty boats, including 19 snake boats participated in the most colourful water sport in Kerala, on the Punnamada lake.
The most popular event of the competition is the race of 'Chundan Valloms' (snake boats). Other boats which participate are known as 'churulan', 'Odi', 'Vepu'.
The history of this race dates back to the year 1952 when prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru visited Alappuzha and an impromptu race was conducted in his honour.
"The Nehru Boat Race and other smaller boat races in Kerala during this time of the year can be an opportunity to attract more tourists to the state.
"This boat race is not only the test of the physical strength of the crew but also about their knowledge of the water currents, their observation powers, and other technical aspects of boat racing. It is, moreover, team work in action and truly victory is the outcome of co-operation and co-ordination amongst the members of a team," Patil said.
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