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| Official Website: Lowell Southeast Asian Water Festival Location: 500 Pawtucket Blvd., Lowell, MA, 01852 directions Phone:(978) 596-1013 Date: Saturday, August 15, 2009 Hours: Races: 10:30 am-5:00pm Ages: Toddlers, Kids, Teens, Adults In/Outdoor: Indoor, Outdoor Cost: Free |
The Lowell Southeast Asian Water Festival is a free cultural event that attracts more than 60,000 spectators from all over the country--and internationally.
Enjoy traditional Dances & Music, Live Bands, Fashion Show, Traditional Boat Races, Games & Activities, International Foods, Arts & Crafts from Southeast Asia, and more!
Event highlights include traditional long boat-racing for competition and pride; traditional New Year celebrations; and to educate the new generations of their valued heritage and culture; and to promote a fully meaningful cultural exchange between the peoples of the United States of America and the countries of Southeast Asia, including, but not limited to: Cambodia; Laos; Philippines; Thailand and Vietnam.
Pick up your FREE tickets at the Lowell National Historical Park's table (located at the Games & Activities area).
About the Organization
The Lowell Southeast Asian Water Festival, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation, protection and sharing of the cultural heritages of the Southeast Asian Americans of Greater Lowell, Massachusetts area.
The organization promotes mutual harmony and understanding among Southeast Asian Americans and others through arts, cultural festivals, educational programs, historical research and discovery, religious ceremonial practices and rituals as having originated in Southeast Asia.
Water is Life
In the capitals of Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam, the Water Festival is an annual event celebrating the connection of water in all aspects of life — food, agriculture, spirituality and economic prosperity. Families journey from remote areas of the country by cars, motorcycles, bicycles, ox, boats, and in some cases by foot to take part in the festival. Most come as spectators, cheering from the shore. The brave come to compete in the boat racing event — determined to win a trophy for their village.
Rowing teams with their colorful hand crafted wooden boats — some as long as 60 feet and holding up to 25 rowers come to compete with enthusiasm, pride and the dream of winning. Long before the race, each team devote many months to perfecting rowing in unison that is guided by the beating of the drums. Legend is said that team members must embody the spiritual power and strength to become one when they row during competition. After having first prepared the physical conditions of their boats, the teams name their boats to capture the essence of the supernatural power. Once in perfect conditions, each village boat is blessed by the village monks in preparation for the race.
On the banks of the river, thousands of spectators, young and old alike, crowd over each other as everyone tries to get a better glimpse, cheering on the speeding boats that pass by. Everyone enjoys the sideline entertainments — street vendors and activities along the banks of the river.
Thousands of miles away, along the banks of Lowell's Merrimack River, the water festival tradition continues. Just as the rice paddies that feed the people of Southeast Asia depend on water, so too did the mills that made Lowell a vital part of the Industrial Revolution need the waterfalls of the Merrimack River. We are united in recognizing and celebrating the role of water in our lives' past, present and future. Water is Life!
The History of the Water Festival
For centuries in Southeast Asian, the Water Festival has celebrated importance of water in aspects of life. Water has always represented prosperity, life and goodness to the Southeast Asian people. Buddhist scripture explains that the Water Festival is held to thank the spirit of the water, to pray for evil spirits to go away, and to honor the Dragon King who dwells in the water. The Festival also asks the water spirit for forgivness for 'dirtying ' the water- for example by using it to irrgate soil
Fishermen and farmers rely on their rivers,lakes and ponds for their livelihood. Villages sprout next to riverbacks. In recent years, water has also come to symbolize economic development. During the races,known as Bon Om Tuk in Khmer or Boun Song Hae in Laotian, people of all ages gather at the riverbanks to sing, dance, and watch the rowing races for three days in min-November.
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500 Pawtucket Blvd., Lowell, MA, 01852 map
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Living Root Dragon Boat Seeks Athletic Men And Women For 2007 Racing!, Mon 22 Jan 2007
Living Root Dragon Boat, a competitive Boston dragon boat club, seeks athletic men and women to train for the 2007 Boston Dragon Boat Festival on June 9-10, 2007! Train now this winter and be ready to race by June!
This is where you want to be, racing with motivated men and women who want to excel and win! Opportunities to race in 2007 in Boston, Montreal, New York, Pawtucket, Hartford, San Francisco are available! Sign up today for a free practice on Thursday January 25, 2007!
Photos of our team are available at: http://livingroot.org/PhotoGallery/index.php?cat=0&page=3!
No prior dragon boat experience necessary. Athleticism, good overall fitness, and/or prior triathlon, swimming, basketball, cycling, marathon, volleyball, rugby, field hockey, lacrosse, football, soccer, running, crew, rowing, sculling, paddling, canoeing, white water rafting, outrigger, kayaking, water polo, yoga experience a plus.
Visit www.livingroot.org or contact Bob Lee at Bob.Lee@livingroot.org for more information today!
| We make best efforts to update information, but it changes frequently, so we cannot warrant it. Please call to check Lowell Southeast Asian Water Festival schedules, fees, and directions before making the trek. We help you, please help us. Report an Error if you find one. |
