The
Dragon Boat Festival has been celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth moon
in the month of June for the past 21/2 millennia.
This Festival, also known as Tuen Ng Festival, solemnizes the death of a
popular Chinese national hero, Qu Yuan, who drowned himself in the Mi Lo
River over 2,000 years ago to protest against the corrupt rulers of 3rd
century. People of the town saw him drowning, they attempted to rescue him
by beating drums to scare fish, so that fish may not eat the body of Qu
Yuan. The people also threw rice dumplings into the river to attract the
fishes.
The Celebrations
Over the period the event had taken the form of most exciting festival in
Hong Kong, local and international participants actively participates in
fast and frenzied dragon boat races on the banging of drums.
The intricately designed, colorfully painted dragon boats are the
prominence of the festivities of blending heritage, sports and exhibitions.
The Dragon Boats are the magnificent boats, measuring more than 10m with
exquisitely carved and painted dragons with their heads and tails. Each boat
is capable of carrying a crew of 20-22 paddlers. The boat is like a colossal
war kayak accompanied by a drummer at mid-canoe who sets the timing of oar
strokes with a huge drum.
Locations
Hong Kong is famous for its marvelous Dragon Boat Festival. There are more
then half a dozen sites in the city where this daylong race celebration
takes place. ‘Tai Po’ and ‘Yaumatei’ usually host the
biggest dragon boat events. ‘Stanley Village’ is another popular
site famous for the Dragon Festival.
The main competitions take place on Shing Mun River, at Sha Tin in the New
Territories. A gunshot strike, mark the starting of a race and immediately
an indiscrete rhythm of drum deck the dragon boats and the sound of chime
aboard fills the harbor with noise.
Today, people remember this fabulous event by eating rice-and-meat
dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves; and many looks forward to swimming or
even simply dipping their hands in the water.
