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Vellavali, Kumarakom Overview
Vellavali is a method employed for catching Karimeen, also known as Pearl Spot. It is a type of fish. The technique called Vellavali is commonly used at Kumarakom. Apart from fishing, the method requires an expertise in swimming also.
A one km long coir rope is transformed in a manner that it looks like a ‘U’ that has been inverted. Further, palm leaves are fastened to the rope. Now the rope ends are tied to the waists of two fishermen. These fishermen go into the water in broad day light. Now, the men walk into the shallow waters by means of the poles. The palm leaves shine brightly and the light thus reflected frightens the Pearl Spot that hides itself in the mud waters. The expert swimmers who had been following these fishermen in the country boats swim into the muddy waters in order to catch the fish just with bare hands.