A Dragon Boat Festival carnival kicked off on June 22 in Liwan Lake Park. The oldest dragon boat in China, the 591-year-old Foshan Yanbu Dragon Boat, and the 400-year-old Pantang Dragon Boat were presented in Lychee Bay. A series of ceremonies were held to welcome Yanbu Dragon Boat, including a folk drama performance, a blessing ceremony, and a "dragon boat meal. "
The story between Foshan Yanbu Dragon Boat and Guangzhou Liwan Pantang Dragon Boat originated in 1597 in the Ming Dynasty. Guangdong officials held a dragon boat race between Yanbu Dragon Boat and Pantang Dragon Boat during the Dragon Boat Festival. When Yanbu Dragon Boat was about to win, the drummer of Pantang Dragon Boat told the man standing on the dragon's head to jump onto the floating platform to grab the flag, which made Pantang win the race. Pantang villagers thought the champion should belong to Yanbu and sent the award back. However, Yanbu villagers insisted that Pantang won by their strategy. Therefore, the two sides agreed to form a friendly relationship between Yanbu Dragon Boat and Pantang Dragon Boat. Yanbu Dragon Boat is the "Qiye (father)" of Pantang Dragon Boat, while Pantang is the "Qizai (son)."
Since then, "Qiye" has visited "Qizai" during the Dragon Boat Festival for over 400 years. Pantang villagers gathered at the river on that day, lining up to welcome Yanbu Dragon Boat. People played gongs and drums, and lit firecrackers. The most respected and healthy elder of Pantang village brought his family and hung red flowers on Yanbu Dragon Boat, showing their respect and blessing to "Qiye."
The 591-year-old Yanbu Dragon Boat
The Pantang Dragon Boat
Pantang villagers send roasted meat, rice wine, and local water chestnuts as gifts to Yanbu Dragon Boat.
Guangzhou has had the custom of "meeting friends with dragon boats" for hundreds of years. These are the "brothers" of Pantang Dragon Boat, which came to witness the "kinship" between Yanbu and Pantang.
The extravaganza of the dragon boat parade
The folk drama "The rise of dragon boat" was performed by both Pantang villagers and professional dancers at the opening ceremony. They displayed the whole process of rising, racing, swimming, and hiding a dragon boat. The show is a fashionable expression of traditional folk customs, showing the power and beauty of Pantang's dragon boatceremony.
“The rise of dragon boat”
Performers beat drums and gongs for the blessing ceremony.
Leaders of each dragon boat exchanged flags to strengthen their friendship.
Villagers picked up water chestnuts from Pantang and distributed them to the public to express their hospitality.
Audiences are catching water chestnuts.
After the opening ceremony, Pantang villagers invite friends from other villages to eat a “dragon boat meal.” There are chicken, shrimp, fish, and pork dishes.
This dish is called "dragon boat ding," which is made from pepper, dried radish, meat, and peanuts. The dish is for the dragon boat rowers to supply them with strength.
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