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Mostly in the season of spring and early summer, an annual traditional festival is carried out in and around the fishing ports of Okinawa. This is a highly colorful event and is better known as the Haari or the Dragon Boat Races festival. Being a traditional festival, it also has a myth attached to its origin. According to a particular school of thought, this festival relates to the death of the famous Chinese poet Kutsugen. The race is so named because the boats that are used in these racing events are always set up with highly decorated heads of Chinese dragons. The tails of these boats can be used to carry a large drum abroad.
In this festival of Dragon on Boat Races, many teams are known to compete irrespective of sex, creed, class and culture. The crew in this Dragon on Boat Races mostly consists of 32 rowers, 2 runner tenders and 3 flag bearers. You can also find two cheer leaders and a singer in some rare cases. The boats used in this Dragon on Boat Race festival are highly colorful weighing about two tons approximately. The singers are always found to be standing in the helms, beating the drums loudly and simultaneously belting out beautiful numbers so that the rowers can work in a synchronized manner.
For all those who wish to be a part of this mega Dragon on Boat Races event, all that you need to do is to go and contact the participating teams or the volunteers. The crowd that comes to watch this festival is found to be highly exciting and enthusiastic. In close proximity to the venue of this Dragon on Boat Races festival, another food festival is organized.
The Dragon on Boat Races festival is immensely popular in this part of the world. In more recent times, this festival of Dragon Boat Racing has even crossed the continental barriers and spread even to Europe, North America, Australia and some parts of Africa.
For more information on other important Japanese festivals, visit us at .
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