Kerala is well-known for its boat races along with the water sports. Kuttanad and the upper Kuttanad area are mainly famous for the boat races. The annual boat races are a source of entertainment, celebration and gaiety for the locals comprising majority of the agriculturists and fishermen. These annual boat races are the platform for proving the physique and muscle power of the people of a Kara locality of Kuttanadu. Among the several boat races of Kerala the chief are the Nehru Trophy Boat Race, Champakulam Moolam Boat Race and Aranmula Boat Race.

The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is the most colorful water sport in Kerala. It is organized at Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha every year on the second Saturday in the month of August. People from all over the world come over here to witness this prestigious cultural event of Kerala. The trophy was named as Nehru Trophy because the first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru handed it over to the winners of the first boat race. The event was an impromptu and was held in the honor of the Prime minister who visited Alappuzha in 1952.

Conducted during Onam, The two days Aranmula Boat Race in Kerala is more a water fiesta than a competition. The event is a re-enacting of the legend involving a devout Brahmin who made a votive offering of feeding one pilgrim a day. On this day an imposing effigy of Sree Krishna is taken out in procession on the lake with children dressed as nymphs and princesses. Enjoy watching the snake boats decorated with silken parasols, carrying helmsmen, oarsmen and singers assemble near the temple early in the morning and then move away in pairs, creating a magnificent pageant.

The oldest and most popular snake boat race in Kerala, and is closely connected to the Sree Krishna Temple at Ambalappuzha. The race is held on the Champakulam Lake on the moolam day of the Malayalam month Midhunam, the day of the installation of the deity at the Temple.

Payippad Jalotsavam pays tribute to yet another legend of Kerala. It is believed that the people of Haripad once decided to build a temple dedicated to Lord Ayappa, however the completion of the temple, the villagers had a vision that asked them to instal a deity of Sri Subramanya Swami in the temple. The villagers were guided to the a whirlpool in Kayamkulam Lake where they were to find the idol. The people abided by the directions given to them in the divine vision and brought back the Subramanyam Virgah (idol) in a boat with complete respect due to it.

This boat race is held on two weeks after the Nehru Trophy Boat Race. It is held at Pulinkunnu, 10 km away from the Alleppey town. The boat race is conducted in memory of Late Mr.Rajiv Gandhi, the former Indian Prime Minister