The practice of Tai O Dragon Boat Water Parade in Dragon Boat Festival has been established for more than one hundred years.
According to record, there was a plague in Tai O around
one hundred years ago. Fishermen paddled dragon boats with deity statues
from the four temples in Tai O to perform a water parade in order to
get rid of sickness and evil spirits. The plague finally disappeared.
The tradition has been maintained and practiced until today.
Tai O Water Parade was inscribed on China's third national list of intangible cultural heritage in 2011.
The ritual is organized by three fishermen’s associations in Tai O. On the morning before the festival, members of the associations paddle their dragon boats to visit four temples, namely Yeung Hau, Tin Hau (at San Tsuen), Kwan Tai and Hung Shing. They carry the deity statues back to their associations’ hall for worship. On the day of the festival (the fifth day of the fifth lunar month), the deity statues are put on the sacred sampans towed by the associations’ dragon boats to parade through Tai O’s waters, for the hope of bringing peace to Tai O. Many residents of the stilt houses that are sprinkled along the watercourses burn paper offerings as the dragon boats pass by. After the ritual, the deity statues are returned to the respective temples.
The route of Water ParadeTai O Water Parade
大澳龍舟遊涌
Tai O, Lantau Island.
大嶼山大澳Islet Relics /2014
