The boat race season in Kerala commences in June- July with the Champakkulam boat race. The race popularly known as the 'Moolam Vallamkali ' is held in the waters of the Champakkulam river at Champakulam, about 26 km from Alappuzha. Moolam signifies a Malayalam asterism (star ) of the Malayalam month of Mithunam (June- July). The boat race is held in remembrance of the installation of the famous idol of Lord Krishna in the Amabalapuzha Sree Krishnaswamy Temple brought from the Karinkulam temple in Kurichi near Kottayam. One of the most popular boat races of Kerala, the highlights of the water festival are a ceremonial procession on the water, spectacular water floats, decorated boats, and of course, the race of the majestic ' Chundanvalloms' or Snake boats– so called because the stern resembles the raised hood of a snake), each 100 feet long, on the waters of river Champakkulam accompanied by the songs of the oarsmen known in local dialect as 'Vanchipattu'.