COPENHAGEN, June 18 (Xinhua) -- The 6th edition of the Dragon Boat Festival was kicked off on Sunday by the Chinese singer Guo Feng, who led a chorus of locals from Chinese schools and various Danish associations in the city's South Harbor.
This year's theme, "Let the World be Filled with Love" rang out through the stage performances, harmonizing with the vibe of the international audience that wandered among Chinese culinary and exhibition booths.
Among the attendees, local shop worker Jesper, who is married to a Chinese woman, echoed the sentiment of unity. With a glowing sense of pride, he watched his daughter, fluent in Chinese, perform alongside Guo.
"It's an event for everyone. Very vibrant, and full of color. It's just lovely to be here, sharing with everyone," he said.
This year's event was a testament to the festival's motto, with its multinational participation alongside traditional Chinese rowers.
A total of 24 teams with mixed-nationality crews marked 2023 as an extraordinary year for the Dragon Boat Festival in Copenhagen.
Ivan, a Danish participant, said that the Chinese members of his association were the driving force behind his participation, emphasizing the communication aspect rather than the alluring prizes.
"They invite us every year, and we are finally attending because we want to be in good communication with our Chinese members," Ivan told Xinhua.
Among a mostly novice crew, the professional steer guided the team with basic rowing instructions.
Despite initial clumsiness, laughter and a shared sense of humor fostered a bond among the crew members, turning strangers into day-long friends.
While an experienced international crew took home the generous prizes at the day's end, the true triumph of the festival was its manifestation of unity under Copenhagen's blue, sunny sky.
The event was organized by the China Cultural Center in Copenhagen in collaboration with the Copenhagen Dragon Boat Festival Committee and the Copenhagen Rowing Club. ■