The 2019 Lukang Dragon Boat Festival activities series announced its beginning on a day of good fortune – in the morning on March 8 (the 2nd day of the 2nd lunar month, “the dragon raises its head”). Magistrate Wang Huei-mei of Changhua County tossed the divination blocks on behalf of Lukang Lung-shan Temple, accompanied by Director Tu Shu-mei of Changhua Sports and Dragon Boat Committee, and others. The Magistrate prayed to the Guanyin Bodhisattva and Dragon God before tossing the divination blocks. The date for holding the “Dragon God ceremony” was chosen by the deity. Tossing the divination blocks four times, the date May 11 (Saturday) (the 7th day of the 4th lunar month) was chosen for the “2019 Lukang Dragon Boat Festival – Dragon God Ceremony” and Dragon Boat Launching Ceremony. At the same time, the nighttime dragon boat race will be held again this year.
In central Taiwan, Lukang is a place facilitated with the river paths suitable for huge dragon boat races. In this year, it will be the 42nd anniversary of the “Dragon God Ceremony”, which will announce the beginning of the “Lukang Dragon Boat Festival activities series”. To allow the dragon boat race to proceed smoothly, the “Dragon God” of Lukang Lung-shan Temple will be invited on a pilgrimage before the Dragon Boat Festival. The “Sea God” from Tianhou Temple will also be invited to the site of the dragon boat race to guard over it and bless the race to be held safely and perfectly. It is a special folk ceremony in Taiwan.
On the day of the “Dragon God Ceremony”, the dragon boat and festival array will march along the street, accompanying the Dragon God in the pilgrim. In addition, the “Dragon God and Consecration Ceremony – The Launching of the Dragon Boat Festival and Blessing” will be held. It announces the coming of the Dragon Boat Festival. Lukang was originally named as Lu Zai Gang, which flourished from 1785 to the 1950s. During this period, merchant ships packed the port and trading companies were elsewhere in town, constituting a special humanistic landscape. Walking into Lukang, it is like traveling in time. With Lukang as the core, the tacit and explicit cultures surrounding the town, with the contributions of the local groups and organizations that help promote the Dragon Boat Festival activities, the glory of the historical past is revived, forging an international tourism attraction.
Listed as one of the top 10 festival activities, “Lukang Dragon Boat Festival” is the largest Dragon Boat Festival ceremony with the longest history in Taiwan. In the activities, there is a series of exciting activities, such as “International Dragon Boat Race”, “traditional xiqu performances”, “Luban feast”, and more. There are also exciting activities that are to be held at Fuxing Barn Calligraphy Studio, Wenkai College Cross-cultural Sinology Center, Heqi Mansion, and other sightseeing factories as a part of the Dragon Boat Festival activities series. It is believed that “when the Dragon God descends, Changhua will be prosperous. Everything will be fortunate and Lukang will be very charming.” Magistrate Wang Huei-mei would like to invite people to visit Changhua to “watch the dragon boat, taste good food, travel around the historic monuments, and have fun with folklore.”