The Alappuzha District Collector declared a local holiday on August 22, 2026, in connection with the 72nd Nehru Trophy Boat Race held at Punnamada Lake. The holiday applied to government offices and educational institutions across Alappuzha district, allowing residents and visitors to take part in the popular annual event.
However, public and university examinations that had already been scheduled were not postponed and continued as planned. The decision reflected the importance of the Nehru Trophy Boat Race as one of Alappuzha’s biggest cultural and sporting events, which attracts large crowds to the district every year.