Sualkuchi, Sept. 5: Assam?s silk town is paddling its boat against the tide of tradition to reach out to the world.

Trying to emulate Kerala, which has built a seasonal tourism industry around its famous boat races, Sualkuchi today allowed a team from outside to participate in its annual boat race for the first time in its 100-year history.

Though the 11-member team from Manipur did not compete in any of the three boat-racing categories ? the rowers only gave a demonstration ? their mere participation in an event that had been a closed affair promises to open up major tourism opportunities.

The tradition of annual boat races in Sualkuchi dates back to over 100 years, but came to be held in an organised manner only 41 years ago. But until this year, the organisers had refused participation of teams from outside.

The event is held every year on the death anniversary of the 15th century saint-reformer Srimanta Sankardev.

Over 5,000 people cheered from the bank of the Brahmaputra, which flows along the town, as the competitors strained every muscle in their bodies to paddle their boats toward the finish line. Shouts of hei-ya-ho from the rowers and the audience rent the air as excitement reached a crescendo. The local participants also sang Kamrupiya songs to get the adrenaline flowing.

Manipur commissioner of sports Ch. Birendra was impressed by what he saw. ?It is a great event and very exciting. We hope to be back next year and compete,? he said.

His colleague W. Sushil Kumar, who is the deputy director of sports in Manipur, echoed him. ?The atmosphere is electrifying,? he said.

Organised by the Naokhel Pratijogita Samiti, Sualkuchi, the competition is held in three categories ? Holong (for 11-member teams), Khel Nao (with 50-60 members on each boat) and one for women (8-11 members on one boat).

The British used to refer to Sualkuchi as the Manchester of the East for its silk industry, which now has an annual turnover of near Rs 200 crore. But the township, with a population of nearly 50,000, is facing uncertainty because of erosion by the Brahmaputra.

An hour?s drive from the state capital, Sualkuchi was declared a Handloom Heritage Village in 2003 as part of the Tarun Gogoi government?s Vision Assam 2025 plan. It may soon become a rural tourism centre under a UNDP project.