Traditional boat racing festival

Traditional boat racing festival - Cultural feature of Binh Dinh people Go Boi boat racing festival is considered a traditional culture of Binh Dinh people every Tet and spring, meaning to pray for a year full of health, peaceful life and good harvests. 1. Origin of Binh Dinh boat racing festival - Go Boi River belongs to Con river branch and flows into Thi Nai lagoon, flowing through Phuoc Hoa commune, Tuy Phuoc district, Binh Dinh province. This place was also known as the second most prosperous trading place in Binh Dinh at one time. Because the river bed is very deep and wide, boats in the South and in the North often stop by to anchor, buy, sell and exchange goods. Besides being a trading place, Go Boi River is also associated with the fishing and aquaculture life of local people. - Also because life is closely linked to the river, Go Boi boat racing festival has become one of the indispensable cultural and spiritual activities of Quy Nhon people every Lunar New Year. The festival is not only an opportunity for Go Boi residents to exercise their endurance and strengthen their spirit of solidarity, but also has the meaning of reminding children and grandchildren of their national roots and the tradition of fighting against foreign invaders of the past. 2. Interesting things during the festival. -  Catching ducks on the river: At exactly 3:00 p.m., the Go Boi boat racing festival officially opened with the contest "catching ducks on the river". The organizers will release the ducks into the water in a designated area. After that, the athletes must demonstrate their skillful swimming skills to "catch" the ducks and bring them to shore. - Pole fishing: Following the duck catching performance, the athletes will enter the competition in the 500m pole fishing event. This is a competition that requires dexterity and precise calculation in each movement of controlling the rower to quickly surf on the wave surface for about 15 minutes. - The most unique collective dragon boat racing of the festival: Finally, the most exciting and anticipated activity is the collective dragon boat racing on the 2000m long river. The boats participating in the competition all have their own colors, elaborately designed motifs with dragon heads, and splendid gilded lacquer patterns prepared months in advance. 3. The meaning of Go Boi boat racing festival in the lives of Binh Dinh people - Boat racing festival on Go Boi River is a traditional culture of the people of Binh Dinh martial arts land during Tet and spring. According to ancient beliefs, Binh Dinh fishermen often organize boat racing festivals on the first day of the new year to pray for a year of good health, good weather, and a sea full of fish and shrimp. - Besides the ceremony with special solemn cultural and spiritual significance, the boat racing festival with its bustling atmosphere is the most anticipated by the people. The boat racing festival is not only sports, music and dance, but also an opportunity to show the martial spirit and solidarity of the people of Binh Dinh. - Every year, the event attracts a large number of young men and women from Phuoc Thuan, Phuoc Son, Phuoc Hoa and Phuoc Thang communes to compete. According to regulations, each team participating in the boat racing festival usually has a maximum of 30 people including the captain, captain and swimmers. Depending on the budget of each locality, the boat will be decorated in many eye-catching designs and colors.