Rowing with Rhythm: Financial lessons from Onam Boat races

Table of Content

1. Discipline sets the pace

2. Teamwork matters more than force

3. Resilience keeps you afloat

4. Perseverance brings the finish line closer

5. Shared vision guides direction

6. The race never ends, but it gets easier

7. Conclusion

Onam is more than colours, feasts and flowers. It carries stories that travel through generations. One of them is the story of King Mahabali, who is remembered for prosperity and kindness. Another is the spectacle of boat races (vallam kali), where hundreds row together in rhythm. For Kerala, these races are not just sport. They are living lessons in teamwork, discipline and resilience. The same values can shape our journey to financial freedom.

Discipline sets the pace

You must have seen those longboats known for their distinctive snake-like shape and size in those races. The boat (vallam) moves only when every rower keeps the rhythm. If even one breaks pace, the whole boat suffers. Discipline holds the team together. Think of financial planning in the same way. Saving a fixed portion of income every month looks small. But when followed without break, it builds a strong base over time. Skipping this discipline weakens the plan. Many people wait for a “better” month to start saving. Often, that month never comes. Like a boat stuck midstream, progress halts. A disciplined investor avoids that trap.

For example, a 30-year old young salaried professional who starts investing ₹5,000 monthly in a Unit Linked Insurance Plan (ULIP) at 25, may accumulate over ₹2 crore by 60 at 12% CAGR. If the same person delays by 10 years, the final amount is nearly half. The lesson is simple. Money grows when you stay steady, not when you row once and stop.

Teamwork matters more than force

In boat races, it is not the strongest arms that win. It is the team that rows in harmony. No wonder they sing boat songs (called vanchipaattu) to keep the tempo high. Financial journeys are similar. Family members, sometimes across generations, need to pull in the same direction. One person saving while the other overspends breaks the rhythm. Shared goals such as children’s education, retirement, a home, require shared commitment.

A couple planning for retirement can divide responsibilities. One invests in equity for long-term growth. The other can focus on insurance-linked savings plans. Together, the risk is balanced and the goal is achieved faster. Teamwork in money, like in boats, removes friction and builds speed.

Resilience keeps you afloat

Boat races face heavy rains, rough currents and even sudden slips. Yet rowers continue, adjusting their stroke, refusing to stop. Financial journeys too face storms. These can be in the form of job loss, medical emergencies, market falls. Resilience is the ability to hold steady. Insurance, emergency funds and diversification give that strength.

Think about a small business owner whose shop shuts during floods. If she has a term insurance plan and health cover, her family does not collapse under debt. Her investments in different instruments such as some in gold, some in bonds. This is to keep her afloat until business returns. Without resilience, even years of effort can sink. With it, one survives and rows again.

Perseverance brings the finish line closer

A boat race lasts long minutes where muscles ache and lungs burn. Yet rowers do not stop mid-race. The finish line rewards only those who stay till the end. Financial planning is also a test of patience. Shortcuts, chasing sudden gains, or giving up during setbacks rarely work. During an Onam race, one boat lagged far behind as stronger crews surged ahead. Stroke after stroke, they refused to break rhythm; by the final stretch, their persistence turned despair into victory.

Consider equity markets. They rise and fall like waves. Many panic during a fall, selling at a loss. But investors who hold for 10, 15, or 20 years often see wealth multiply.Perseverance means trusting the process and continuing the journey even when the ride is uncomfortable.

Shared vision guides direction

Rowers do not look around or compete with each other. Their eyes fix on the same target. The helmsman gives direction, and everyone follows. In money, the vision is financial security for self and family. That may mean living without constant stress about bills. It may mean leaving a legacy for children. It may mean enjoying festivals like Onam with peace of mind, not with fear of debt.

Insurance and investments play the role of that helmsman. Term insurance protects the family if the breadwinner is gone. Life insurance savings products create a long-term corpus. Unit-linked insurance plans (ULIPs) combine growth with protection. Together, they provide direction so that effort is not wasted.

The race never ends, but it gets easier

Onam races end with a winner. Financial security is different. The race continues through life. Goals change. It could first be education, then a home, and later retirement. Each phase demands fresh energy. Yet, unlike boats, money works harder as time passes. Compounding reduces the strain in later years. Early effort, steady rhythm and protection make the long journey smoother.

Festivals remind us that life is not only about winning. It is about celebrating together, building resilience, and finding joy in small victories. Onam shows us that prosperity comes not by accident but by balance, teamwork and discipline.

Conclusion

When you watch a snake boat gliding over Kerala’s backwaters, remember the hidden message. Each stroke, though small, contributes to a larger journey. Each pause, if careless, slows the entire boat. The race does not reward individuals but rewards the team that rows as one.

Financial life follows the same principle. Small savings, when disciplined, grow into wealth. Insurance keeps the family safe during storms. Investments, spread wisely, provide resilience. Teamwork inside families strengthens goals. Perseverance keeps the dream alive even in tough times.

This Onam, think of your money as that boat. You are not alone in it. Your family rows with you, your plans act as oars. Your discipline provides rhythm, and your insurance shields against storms. The water will not always be calm. But with balance and effort, the boat moves forward. That is the path to long-term financial security.

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ARN: ED/08/25/26074