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Taming the Dragon

Get ready for the 2008 Regatta

Colourful wooden boats, rhythmic drumming, thousands of supporters, and friendly competition - South Africans are in for a treat, as time draws near for the Dragon Boat Festival.

Duan Wu Jie (Dragon Boat Festival) is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth moon of the Chinese lunar calendar.

Organised by Gauteng Dragon Boat Association, the 2008 festival, the 8th of its kind in South Africa, will be held over the weekend of May 3rd and 4th, at Florida Lake, Roodepoort, Johannesburg.

The festival is one of the most important on the Chinese calendar, the others being Chinese New Year Festival and the Moon Festival.


The legend

There are many different theories regarding the origin of Dragon Boat Festival, the most popular being the legend of Chu Yuan, a poet and minister of state during the Chu Dynasty.

Also known as Poet's Day, the festival is popularly held to commemorate Chu's death.

Legend has it that Chu had protested against a corrupt government and was stripped of his office. He saw the gradual decline of his mother country, the Chu State. And, when he heard that the Chu State was defeated by the strong Chin State, he was so anguished that he ended his life by flinging himself into the Milo River.

When local fishermen heard Chu had disappeared into the river, they raced out in their boats to recover him, when they realized that Chu was dead, they dropped rice dumplings (zong-zi) in the water to feed the fish and crabs so that Chu's body could be brought back and entombed.

Over 2 300 years later, Chinese still commemorate Chu Yuan through traditions such as dragon boat races, eating Zong-Zi and other activities. This occurs on the anniversary of his death, the fifth day of the fifth Moon in the Chinese lunar calendar.


Features

Special boats over 14 meters long with carved and painted dragon heads and tails are used for the race. Each boat has a crew of 18 paddlers sitting side by side, with a steersman at the back and a drummer and a flag catcher at the front. The paddlers race to the sound of pounding drums and a cheering crowd.

People are serious about this competition and train well in advance. The organizers expect about 40 teams in the two day Festival.

"This is Chinese dragon boating the South African way," said Gino Feng, our former Chairman.

"While the boats are racing, people are having braais and cheering on the river bank.

"It is also one of the very few winter water sport where families and friends can enjoy the fun in the sun while watching the action-packed performance by teams from all historical backgrounds, highlighting cultural blending in our rainbow nation." Feng said.

1999 saw the first South African Dragon Boat Regatta being organised. Thousands of people turned up to watch 26 teams competing in the South African and Chinese leagues, which run concurrently.

"The festival has been growing every year," said Beulah Cloete, Gauteng Dragon Boat Association Chairman, "We celebrate in a unique way. South Africans are quite sports orientated, and this event has attracted a lot of attention among canoe, paddling and rowing clubs.

There will also be a market on the riverbank, selling Chinese delicacies, snacks, gifts and souvenirs' local traders have been invited to join the market.

For a fun-filled family day filled with Chinese customs and traditions the South African way, diarise May 3rd and 4th.