Nouka Baich Boat Race

About Nouka Baich Boat Race:

• It is a traditional boat race of West Bengal.
• Timing
  • The races occur in the month of September across riverine Bengal, when the river waters are swollen during the last weeks of the monsoons.
  • They continue till September, sometimes till October, even November in some places.
• These boat races were previously dominated by male but in the recent years one can see participation of women too.
• These boat races in southern West Bengal are particularly linked with the worship of the Hindu deity Manasa, the goddess of snakes.
  • The worship of Manasa is the worship of snakes. And the local deity most commonly worshipped in rural south Bengal is Manasa, a deity worshipped by agrarian communities.
• Type of boats used
  • In this race four to five kinds of traditional boats are used for the races.
  • Other boats that are commonly used for races in Bengal include the Chhip, Kaile Bachhhari, Chande Bachhari, Chitoi and Sorpi.
  • A special type boat called Sorengi which is about 90 ft long which imitates nature is also seen in these races.