12/06/2017
India’s Chinatown at Kolkata has been inhabited by Chinese immigrants from as early as the 1780’s, who have contributed immensely in the city economics through its tannery products and authentic Chinese cuisine. The food journey in Kolkata is incomplete without a visit to the ‘Chinatown-Tangra’ and its delectable and authentic Chinese food. Not to forget the “Territi Bazaar breakfast’ that serves up amazing breakfast options everyday day 6am-9am.
On the 11th of June,2017 Kolkata hosted the Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Zhongxiao Festival, a first of its kind in India at the Calcutta Boating and Hotel Resorts.
Attended and inaugurated by the Chinese Consul Mr Ma Zhanwu , Mr Jawed Ahmad and Prof Maria Fernandes ,was a colourful event with participation from artists from China.
The Dragon boat festival is a traditional Chinese holiday that occurs on the 5th day of the 5th month of the traditional Chinese calendar, which is the source of the festival's alternative name, the Double Fifth Festival.
The story best known in modern China holds that the festival commemorates the death of the poet and minister Qu Yuan (c. 340–278 BC) of the ancient state of Chu during the Warring States period of the Zhou Dynasty. A cadet member of the Chu royal house, Qu served in high offices. However, when the king decided to ally with the increasingly powerful state of Qin, Qu was banished for opposing the alliance and even accused of treason. During his exile, Qu Yuan wrote a great deal of poetry. Twenty-eight years later, Qin captured Ying, the Chu capital. In despair, Qu Yuan committed su***de by drowning himself in the Miluo River.
It is said that the local people, who admired him, raced out in their boats to save him, or at least retrieve his body. This is said to have been the origin of dragon boat races. When his body could not be found, they dropped balls of sticky rice into the river so that the fish would eat them instead of Qu Yuan's body.
Information Courtesy Whats Hot
