Dragon Boat Festival begins with 2,000-year-old rite

Children dot the eyes in grand awakening

Children were centre stage at the Awakening of the Dragon Ceremony on Friday at the Inner Harbour.

Four youngsters ages four to nine helped to paint the eyes of dragon heads mounted on racing boats, “awakening” the creatures to mark the start of this weekend’s 23rd annual Canada Dry Dragon Boat Festival. Every boat involved is decorated with a dragon head.

The annual ceremony is a 2,000-year-old tradition intended to bring festival participants good luck and smooth sailing.

“Kids are always a big part of any of the Asian ceremonies,” said festival spokeswoman Jennifer Loo. “Anything that’s happy, kids are always there.”

The ceremony has considerable meaning, said Loo, who has been a dragon boater herself for 18 years. Seven Taoist priests from the International Taoist Church of Canada presided over it.

“It’s really important. Anything to do with some sort of event, if it’s a wedding, even it it’s a funeral, it is important to get blessed.”

Festival chairman Sinclair Mar told the crowd gathered for the Ship Point ceremony that the goal each year “is to bring the community together through dragon boating.”

Mar said there is a “recipe” for a successful festival, including plenty of volunteers. This year’s festival is being supported by 300 people. “We have volunteers from all walks of life and occupations, and who range from teens to people into their retirement years.”

The festival charity for the 10th straight year is the B.C. Cancer Foundation. More than $700,000 has been raised for the foundation by the event.

Today’s activities start with races on Victoria Harbour at 8 a.m. and wind up with music — the final act gets going at 8:45 p.m.

Food and merchandise are available in an area known as the Forbidden City, below Wharf Street.

More than 80 teams with about 1,600 participants are taking part. All will compete in 20-person boats built on the Saanich Peninsula.

Visiting Canadian teams come from as far away as Regina, while some American entries have travelled from California.

The festival wraps up Sunday at 3 p.m. on Ship Point with the presentation of awards.

Four-year-old Miyu Loo gets help dotting the eyes from Lee Porter, left, and Jennifer Loo at the ceremonial launch of the 23rd annual Dragon Boat Festival at Ship Point on Friday. At right, Taoist priests and a high priestess awaken a mythological...