Feast of the Drunken Dragon

Celebrated by the fishermen in Macau on the 8^th day of the 4^th moon, this folk festival is all about letting loose and enjoying. A carnival of sorts, it is amazing how a local festival has gone on to feature in UNESCO’s intangible Heritage List. Before I tell you how the Chinese celebrate Feast of the Drunken Dragon, here’s the story behind the festival.

Macau brightly lit up during a festive night!

It is believed that a Buddhist monk slayed a sea dragon and thus saved the entire fishermen community from a deadly plague. To add to that, some also believe, that the land where the dragon’s blood spilled became extremely fertile. The legend dates back to several centuries but even today, the festivial is celebrated with such vigor as though the miracle happened recently! This year, the festival shall be celebrated on April 28^th and if you are travelling to Macau during this time, do reserve the day for a glimpse of Macau’s unique customs that are marked with vibrancy and gusto.

The Dragon

Men wearing dragon masks and dancing away is perhaps the most vivid image of Chinese culture that we have in our minds. We see it during New Year celebrations and during several carnivals. The Feast of the Drunken Dragon is no exception. Chinese men don vibrant wooden dragon masks and parade the roads of Macau. The procession starts from Kwan Tai Temple in and spreads to different areas of the city where men happily join in.

Photo Credit: Cdip150 / Wikimedia

The Drunk

It is a celebration over death and the spectacle is bound to be filled with revelry and drinking. But according to some, the celebration is an exorcism rite and the drinking shows that the people are possessed by some divine spirit. Keep aside the theory, for the spectacle that you will see is incredible, to say the least. Pots and beakers of alcohol are drunk, spitted and poured all over. Men and even young boys can be seen dancing wildly, carrying wooden masks and tails of the dragon.

The Feast

Just like any other Chinese festival, the feast involves large quantities of rice. A preparation called ‘longevity rice’ is distributed to everyone. As the name suggests, the rice is believed to bless people with a long and healthy life and the concept is petty similar to that of prasad in Hindus.

After all this gyan are you thinking what I am thinking? Why the Drunken Dragon? The dragon was killed and done away with. It is the people who are drunk. Well, that’s the way it is. Anyhow, the spectacle is bizarre, the dancing infectious and the spirit unmatchable - definitely an event to look out for.

Cheers to the Feast of the Drunken Dragon!