Kolkata: The city welcomed the return of the vibrant Chinese Dragon Boat Festival on Saturday, after a four-year hiatus. As it made its roaring comeback, the Dragon Boat Festival was more than a cultural showcase. It was the celebration of Kolkata’s Chinese heritage. The highlight of the event was the dragon boat races, for which spectators lined up the banks of Rabindra Sarobar.The last time the festival was held, at the same venue was in 2022, but without the high-octane boat race, following the death of a rower. Before the pandemic, in 2019, the rowing competition did feature as the key event.For those on land, the visual spectacle is heightened by the energetic, acrobatic Chinese Lion and Dragon dances. Performers weave through cheering crowds to the deafening clash of cymbals and traditional drums. The 2026 Dragon Boat Festival was flagged off at the Lions Club premises at 3.30pm — with the rhythmic beating of drums and the traditional lion dance.Members of the city’s Chinese community had assembled to witness the unique cultural event with its trademark fervour. “It is a great pleasure to join you today by the Rabindra Sarobar Lake to witness the Chinese community of Kolkata hosting the dragon boat race after a four-year hiatus,” said Xu Wei, consul general of the People’s Republic of China in Kolkata.“Dragon boat race is one of the most iconic folk activities of the traditional Chinese Dragon Boat Festival with a history of over 2,000 years. Today, it has become a global cultural sporting event and an important window to learn about Chinese culture. Just now, four dragon boat teams gave their all, demonstrating the spirit of unity, collaboration and striving for excellence,” the consul general said.“This event serves as a magnificent testament to India’s only remaining Chinatown. For the last three years, we have been trying to organize the festival. Finally, we are doing it, after procuring KMDA’s permission. It’s particularly heartening to see so many youngsters from our community here,” said Monica Liu, Chinatown’s celebrity entrepreneur. Echoed Qin Yong, deputy consul general, “We are very excited to have the festival resume after four years.”A Li, a homemaker from Mukundapur and wife of a city doctor, said she had brought her daughters, Dou Dou (4) and Mao Mao (8), to the festival to expose them to Chinese cultural heritage.Bhikkuni Miao Ru of the Fo Kuang Shan Kolkata Buddhist Temple said, “These sorts of events are very significant for preserving the Chinese culture. Our population is shrinking every day. Our people, especially the new generation should know the culture.”Beyond the adrenaline of the races, there were food spread from the Chinese families – offering the Indians and the Chinese some of the gastronomic fare East Kolkata’s Tangra offers.
