Photos of Traditional Festival Events, Dragon Boat Races on the Lake

I took these photos with my phone camera. It was very crowded, and I was squeezed in and couldn't move to a different angle, so the photos in this post are simply portraits.

This is a dragon boat race, a traditional festival held to commemorate the 448th anniversary of the city of Takengon. That day was the culmination or final event for the group dragon boat race for men.

This dragon boat race is held almost every year at Lake Lut Tawar and is attended by all villages in Central Aceh Regency. Participants in this race are young people and adults representing each participating village.

In the final session, approximately four groups, or four villages, will compete to be the best winner. In this race, they must row their boats over a distance of over 500 meters.

Before the final event began, all boats took their positions after drawing numbers for their respective positions. Next, the participants sang the national anthem in unison, followed by a regional song.

Each boat group consisted of 22 participants: 20 rowers, one helmsman, and one sheikh who played the drum. The participants raced enthusiastically, greeted by loud cheers from the spectators on the lakeshore.

Meanwhile, spectators filled every corner of the lakeshore, with some even watching live from the lake. The event was also enlivened by a nearby MSME festival, which undoubtedly had a positive impact on the local economy.

The atmosphere that afternoon was truly bustling and lively, greeted by the stunning view of the sunrise, the beauty of the lake, and the stunning rows of hills beyond. I found that day to be a truly captivating experience, with a spirit of mutual support echoing throughout the audience. The day seemed lively, cheerful, beautiful, and friendly.