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Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festival
Awakening of the Dragon
Every July since 2003, Nanaimo has hosted the Save On Foods Dragon Boat Festival. The 4th annual festival from 7-9 July 2006 attracted over 70 teams with thousands of rowers and tens of thousands of spectators to Maffeo Sutton Park and Nanaimo Harbour. Dragon boat racing originated in ancient China in memory of the poet Qu Yuan who drowned in the Mi Lor River.
On the Friday before the actual racing, an Eye Dotting Ceremony was held at the Swy-A-Lana Lagoon to "awaken the spirit of the dragon." Against a background of Buddhist chanting and incense burning, Nanaimo's members of parliament dabbed paint on the dragons eyes. After this ritual cleansing, the teams assembled on Saturday morning and the two-day series of races began.
To view the photos, click on the thumbnails below.
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A team launches their dragon boat in the Swy-A-Lana Lagoon. |
Two dozen rowers manoeuvre their boat into position. |
The dragon head watches as drummer and rowers wait. |
Four dragon boats assemble for the awakening ceremony |
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Symbolic heads and tails representing the dragon boats. |
Buddhist monks perform a ritual to rouse the dragons. |
Nanaimo's MPs watch the ceremony as incense is lit. |
MP Leonard Krog dots the eyes of a dragon. |
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Security was tight at the Dragon Boat Festival. |
Only teams were allowed on the wharf for the race. |
Two dragon boats race towards the finish line. |
An unflappable RCMP officer guarding the red carpet. |
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