Annual dragon boat festival kicks off in NYC
"Traditional Chinese culture is deep and sophisticated. So we believe it's easier to make people of other ethnic groups to learn it through sports like boat-racing, because a lot of people love sports," said Wan.
Besides cheering for the rowers paddling through the water, thousands of viewers could also enjoy performances including traditional lion and dragon dances, music, story telling, and martial arts, beside the lake.
A food court was also set up on the bank offering various Chinese dishes including dumplings and fried rice, as well as South American, Indian, and other cuisines.
The tradition of dragon boat racing is an annual Chinese rite commemorating the idealistic poet and politician Qu Yuan who drowned himself over 2,200 years ago in Central China's Miluo River. The locals raced in their boats in an attempt to rescue the poet, beating their drums and splashing their paddles to scare away fish and water dragons.
