Festivalul Barcilor Dragon

The festival is best known for its dragon-boat races, especially in the southern provinces where there are many rivers and lakes. This regatta commemorates the death of Qu Yuan , an honest minister who is said to have committed suicide by drowning himself in a river.
Qu was a minister of the State of Chu situated in present-day Hunan and Hubei provinces, during the Warring States Period (475-221BC). He was upright, loyal and highly esteemed for his wise counsel that brought peace and prosperity to the state. However, when a dishonest and corrupt prince vilified Qu, he was disgraced and dismissed from office. Dându -și seama că țara era acum în mâinile oficialilor răi și corupți, Qu a apucat o piatră mare și a sărit în râul Miluo în a cincea zi a celei de -a cincea luni. Nearby fishermen rushed over to try and save him but were unable to even recover his body. Thereafter, the state declined and was eventually conquered by the State of Qin.
The people of Chu who mourned the death of Qu threw rice into the river to feed his ghost every year on the fifth day of the fifth month. But one year, the spirit of Qu appeared and told the mourners that a huge reptile in the river had stolen the rice. The spirit then advised them to wrap the rice in silk and bind it with five different-colored threads before tossing it into the river.
În timpul festivalului Duanwu, se mănâncă o budincă glutinoasă de orez numită Zong Zi pentru a simboliza ofertele de orez către Qu. Ingredientele precum fasolea, semințele de lotus, castanele, grăsimea de porc și gălbenușul auriu al unui ou de rață sărat sunt adesea adăugate la orezul glutinos. Budinca este apoi înfășurată cu frunze de bambus, legată cu un fel de rafie și fiert în apă sărată ore întregi.
The dragon-boat races symbolize the many attempts to rescue and recover Qu's body. A typical dragon boat ranges from 50-100 feet in length, with a beam of about 5.5 feet, accommodating two paddlers seated side by side.
A wooden dragon head is attached at the bow, and a dragon tail at the stern. A banner hoisted on a pole is also fastened at the stern and the hull is decorated with red, green and blue scales edged in gold. În centrul bărcii se află un altar cu baldachin, în spatele căruia toboșii, batterii gong și jucătorii de cymbal sunt așezați pentru a stabili ritmul pentru paddlers. There are also men positioned at the bow to set off firecrackers, toss rice into the water and pretend to be looking for Qu. All of the noise and pageantry creates an atmosphere of gaiety and excitement for the participants and spectators alike. Cursele se desfășoară printre diferite clanuri, sate și organizații, iar câștigătorii sunt premiați medalii, bannere, ulcioare de vin și mese festive.
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