First edition of Kayaking festival at Seethathodu today

Villages bordering the Sabarimala forests in Pathanamthitta are set to receive a major boost on Tuesday as authorities prepare to host a kayaking festival on the Kakkattar, a river that winds its way down the Western Ghats.

Tourism Minister P. A. Mohamed Riyas will inaugurate the first edition of Kerala Tourism’s Kodiyeri Balakrishnan Memorial Seethathode Kayaking Festival at 9.30 a.m. at Seethathode. K.U. Janeesh Kumar, MLA, will preside over the inaugural function. Deputy Speaker Chittayam Gopakumar will flag off the competitions to be held near the Seethathode fire station at Konni.

The event is being organised by the Kerala Adventure Tourism Promotion Society (KATPS) under the Tourism Department. Technical support for the event is being provided by the Kerala Kayaking Society and Canoeing Association.

The competitions will be held in men, women, men doubles, women doubles, and mixed categories. Kayakers above the age of 15 can participate.

A total of 110 kayakers have registered for the competitions under various categories, of which 40 have registered in men’s singles, 14 in women’s singles, 34 in men’s doubles, 8 in women’s doubles, and 14 in mixed doubles. As many as 12 kayakers from four States outside Kerala and two international kayakers from Ukraine and Nepal will also participate in the festival.

The event offers prize money totalling ₹3.45 lakhs for competitions in various categories. Actor Navya Nair will distribute the prizes to the winners. First prize in the single’s category comes with a cash prize of ₹25,000 while runners-up will receive ₹15,000, and second runners-up ₹5,000.

In the doubles category, winners will get a cash prize of ₹50,000, runners-up receive ₹25,000, and second runners-up ₹10,000. All participants will receive certificates. Participants should wear lifejackets. Kayaks, lifejackets, and paddles will be provided by the KATPS.

The festival is expected to enhance the appeal of tourism initiatives in the region, including the children’s park, boating, and kayaking that are part of the Seethathode Ethno Hub.