Hong Kong (AsiaNews) - Huge crowds have come to Aberdeen Harbour to see hundreds of dragon boats compete in traditional annual race. Thousands more will watch other races at Stanley Beach, Sha Tin, Tuen Mun, Tai Po, Discovery Bay on Lantau Island, Sai Kung and Cheung Chau Island.
Although the event is celebrated among Chinese communities throughout Asia, Hong Kong remains number one for pageantry, organisation and tradition. On the mainland, for example, it was officially recognised only in 2005.
Known as 'Duan wu jie' or Double Five because it falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar year, it commemorates the death of Qu Yuan (340-278 BC), a great poet and statesman. Unjustly accused of treason by his king, he drowned himself in the Miluo River, near modern Changsha (Hunan).
According to popular lore, villagers rowed their boats into the river to save him, whilst beating drums and dropping zongzi (rice dumplings) into the water to keep fish from devouring Qu Yuan's body.
In memory of the event, people eat dumplings made of glutinous rice stuffed with different fillings and wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves.
Although the origins of the celebration is lost in the mist of time, nowadays it marks the start of summer, a time to enjoy water and for rowers to show off after months of training.
