Ancient rites, races come second to partying Stephanie Wong

HONG KONG – Rowing and ancient ritual were a sideshow to the boozing of thousands of party animals gathered in the sweltering heat at Hong Kong’s famous annual Dragon Boat Festival races yesterday.

The festival, or Tuen Ng, is a traditional Chinese holiday that finds its roots in the third century BC. But over the past 20 years, as dragon boating has grown into a global sport, the holiday has become one that many of the city’s more than 100,000 Western expatriates celebrate with as much zeal as locals.And in the southern seaside town of Stanley, where the largest of the dozen or so regattas takes place, some 10,000 mostly foreign revellers got into the holiday mood as the paddle teams battled it out for supremacy in the surf.Early in the morning, buses to the showpiece races were already full and the seaside town’s small beach were packed with the members of the record 153 teams entered in the short-course races.Dressed in often garish uniforms, shorts or bikinis, the thousands of rowers began the day stretching and milling around waiting for the first heats.Once the races had begun, dozens of slender teak boats with their distinctive dragon figureheads soared through the water, their 22-strong crews a whir of paddles and muscles as they pounded through the waves to the beat of on-board drums.Mid-way through the races, competition was brought to a brief pause as local legislature president Rita Fan led a traditional ceremony dotting the eye of a dragon dancer.According to tradition, this ritual wards off evil and ensures a successful regatta.If the action in the water was franetic, the activity on the shore was indulgent as thousands gathered simply to enjoy the public holiday, partying under a blazing sun.Simply getting a drink was a challenge as tough as winning one of the races as thousands swarmed to the picturesque town’s bars.For a few others the celebrations were more sedate.Kiku Chi, a 38-year-old Japanese bank manager who has lived in Hong Kong for seven years, travelled to Stanley with his wife and daughter to support his company’s team.”We come here every year but still we think it has such a lively atmosphere here, although this year seems to be much busier than before,” Chi said.- Nampa-AFPBut over the past 20 years, as dragon boating has grown into a global sport, the holiday has become one that many of the city’s more than 100,000 Western expatriates celebrate with as much zeal as locals.And in the southern seaside town of Stanley, where the largest of the dozen or so regattas takes place, some 10,000 mostly foreign revellers got into the holiday mood as the paddle teams battled it out for supremacy in the surf.Early in the morning, buses to the showpiece races were already full and the seaside town’s small beach were packed with the members of the record 153 teams entered in the short-course races.Dressed in often garish uniforms, shorts or bikinis, the thousands of rowers began the day stretching and milling around waiting for the first heats.Once the races had begun, dozens of slender teak boats with their distinctive dragon figureheads soared through the water, their 22-strong crews a whir of paddles and muscles as they pounded through the waves to the beat of on-board drums.Mid-way through the races, competition was brought to a brief pause as local legislature president Rita Fan led a traditional ceremony dotting the eye of a dragon dancer.According to tradition, this ritual wards off evil and ensures a successful regatta.If the action in the water was franetic, the activity on the shore was indulgent as thousands gathered simply to enjoy the public holiday, partying under a blazing sun.Simply getting a drink was a challenge as tough as winning one of the races as thousands swarmed to the picturesque town’s bars.For a few others the celebrations were more sedate.Kiku Chi, a 38-year-old Japanese bank manager who has lived in Hong Kong for seven years, travelled to Stanley with his wife and daughter to support his company’s team.”We come here every year but still we think it has such a lively atmosphere here, although this year seems to be much busier than before,” Chi said.- Nampa-AFP