Latest news with #BoatFestival
ABC News
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
BTN Newsbreak 10/07/2025
AURA FARM TREND Yeah, these kids have become a social media sensation and their dance moves are being copied by people all around the world. So who are these kids and why are they dancing on boats? Well, It's all part the annual Pacu Jalur boat festival, which is held in the Indonesian province of Riau, and dates back to the 17th century. These kids are called Togak Luan or Anak Joki, and their job is to hype up the rowers and cheer them to victory. So, where does aura farming come into it? Well, aura farming is a trend that's pretty popular on social media at the moment. which pretty much means purposely doing something to look cool or to try and bring in lots of attention. So, if you want to gain maximum aura points, you can safely do it on an imaginary boat, or just be cool in your own way. NVIDIA Computer chip maker Nvidia has rocked the tech world overnight. It became the most valuable company in the world, worth a cool four trillion US dollars! Or about $6.12 trillion Aussie dollars. It's the first company to ever hit the massive money milestone. It's all thanks to the boom of AI, which Nvidia's high-powered computer chips play a big part of. Nvidia says the boom isn't ending anytime soon. STATE OF ORIGIN Yep, Maroons fans have a lot to celebrate today after Queensland's huge State of Origin win! They were underdogs in enemy territory, but with a near-perfect performance, came out on top with a 24-12 victory. NOVACK DJOKOVIC Speaking of coming out and winning, over at Wimbledon Novak Djokovic was able to perform this celebration dance with his son. Despite a bit of a slip - yikes - Djokovic was able to get back up to defeat Flavio Cobolli 6-7 (6/8), 6-2, 7-5, 6-4. WREXHAM AFC Wrexham AFC have touched down here in Aus ahead of their friendly against Melbourne Victory tomorrow night! The small Welsh Football Club shot to fame after being purchased by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. And whilst our footy players have already intimated them a little bit, they've still had a crack at kicking the footy, receiving some helpful pointers from Hawks captain James Sicily. BOOKSTORE MOVE First to this 103-year-old bookstore in Melbourne, that has enlisted the help of booklovers from right across the city, to help it move its store, including their 16,000 books, down the road. HEATHROW AIRPORT Now to the UK where Heathrow airport has enlisted the help of singer and songwriter, Jordan Rakei, to make it sound more airport-y. Yeah, what you're listening to is a track made from airport noises. The hum of an escalator, the rumble of a baggage belt, the distant gate calls. The airport plans to play the song, in the hope that it might evoke a bit of extra excitement. AI FOR GOOD SUMMIT And finally to this 'AI For Good Summit' in Switzerland, where people are showing off their latest creations. From soccer-playing robots, to wrinkly faced chatbots, to talking teddy bears. Imagine waking up to that.
India.com
21-05-2025
- India.com
Explore The Magic Of Kochi City's Iconic Boat Festival This Season
The southern Indian city of Kochi stands out through its port activity and urban vitality along with its cultural inheritance and scenic water areas and customary annual festivities. The Boat Festival maintains numerous celebrations but Vallam Kali (snake boat races) represents its most astounding attraction which attracts international tourism. The traditional boat festival takes place each year across Kochi's dormant waters while unifying cultural practices with sporting achievements among community bonds. This piece describes why experiencing Kochi City's Boat Festival constitutes an unforgettable experience. 1. A Celebration Rooted in Tradition The Boat Festival in Kochi exists due to its long history which extends over several centuries. During temple festivals people organized boat races to honor Vishnu Lord as well as Goddess Bhagavati. Through the years these celebrations expanded into major festivals which honor both maritime heritage and agricultural abundance of Kerala. Snake boats which the races use originated as weapons during the feudal era but evolved into representations of Kerala's cultural unity and pride. Watching or participating in the festival allows people to witness ancient cultural traditions that characterize Kerala. 2. The Spectacular Snake Boats The Boat Festival features prominent and awe-inspiring snake boats as its main attraction. Wooden vessels built to lengths exceeding 100 feet require more than 100 rowers to fill their capacity. The special shape of these boats along with their elevated ends that form a hood-like structure defines their identification as snake boats. The boat crews enhance their vessels with sophisticated umbrellas together with vibrant flags while including traditional patterns on the artwork. The boats glide smoothly across the water as they move through the water due to centuries of technical progress in boat design and construction that passed from one generation to the next. 3. Thrilling Races and Teamwork Races serve as the central attraction of the Boat Festival because teams win by demonstrating their competitive determination. Under traditional drum beats and chants rowers harmonize their movements which produces a thrilling and electrifying audiovisual experience. Teamwork alongside disciplined action between rowers demonstrates Kerala's cultural dedication to group work. Thousands of people gather annually at the Punnamada Lake near Alappuzha to witness the prestigious Nehru Trophy Boat Race which serves as a major cultural event of this tradition. 4. Cultural Extravaganza Beyond the Races Apart from boat race activities the festival presents numerous artistic shows which display Kerala's heritage traditions. Traditional music combines with Kathakali and Mohiniattam dance performances together with traditional arts to enrich the festival celebrations. Visitors have an opportunity to experience local culture through different activities that frequently occur both near the riverbanks and at close locations. 5. A Feast for the Senses Visitors need to try Kerala delicacies when attending the Boat Festival since tasting the food becomes essential to the experience. Nearby event venues feature food stalls where guests can find local delicacies arrayed through appam (rice pancakes), stew, fish curry together with payasam (sweet pudding). The air fills with delicious aromas from recently prepared foods which use their senses in the second stage of this enticing experience. The festival gains additional appeal because natural environments that surround the rivers create a picturesque and charming atmosphere. 6. Community Spirit and Local Engagement As a festival main event the Boat competition develops deep unity between its participants and attendees. The villagers spend many months before the event working together to strengthen bonds between one another. Friendship between the teams exists during their competitive matches since different regions or villages serve as their representation. Resident populations view the festival as their most treasured event since it helps them both reconnect with their ancestral origins while sharing group success stories. During the festival visitors receive a hearty reception in the open and accepting atmosphere that characterizes the event. 7. Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Practices Efforts to make the Boat Festival environmentally sustainable have gained increased focus throughout the past few years. Organizers maintain active participation toward lowering plastic debris and encouraging responsible environmental practices throughout the event schedule. Both event organizers and participants actively promote the use of reusable items followed by proper trash disposal during the festival. The sustainable dedication matches Kerala's continuing operations for backwater and river resource conservation as well as natural beauty maintenance across the state. Conclusion: A Must-Visit Experience The Kochi City Boat Festival transcends typical sporting events because it allows people to experience the heart of the Kerala culture firsthand. Every event during this festival produces exhilarating cheers from spectators and a harmonious beat from oars in motion. The Boat Festival touches your memory with its dance of snake boats and beautiful Kerala meals and lively festival environment. The Boat Festival in Kochi represents an ideal opportunity for tourism-oriented visitors who want genuine cultural immersion through its unique blending of heritage events and traditional celebrations. The event demonstrates human potential for collective celebration through which people bridge cultural differences to create bonds between each other. Visiting Kerala during festival season will be worth your while to see the Boat Festival since this event leaves an unforgettable impression.
