Chongqing - Indian YouTuber Saahil Kannada embarked on a cultural immersion journey in Tongnan District as the 5th Chongqing Dragon Boat Open (Tongnan Division) filled the Fujiang River with competitive spirit. Twenty-eight teams from Chongqing, Sichuan, and Guangdong competed fiercely in 200m and 500m races, with over 600 athletes.

The primary races concluded on the morning of May 24th, drawing crowds of spectators cheering for all the participants. The Hechuan Team, from Chongqing, won the open category, making the display even more breathtaking, edging out a strong contender from Zhaoqing, Guangdong.

Interestingly, Saahil mentioned a cultural parallel that in India, similar competitions are held during Onam, Kerala's harvest festival. It features long and narrow boats, quite similar to the Chinese dragon boats, but instead, it's called a snake boat. Even though the cultures of China and India are very different, the shared theme of community and celebration highlights how both traditions utilize waterborne races to honor their cultural heritage and foster collective pride.

Beyond the races, the event offered a diverse range of activities. World swimming champion Pang Jiaying led an open-water swimming invitational. Cultural experiences also provided Saahil with a deeper understanding of Chinese folk arts, including the crafting of herbal sachets and dragon boat painting. "I thought it was just a cute bag, but people told me that they are made of fragrant herbs and flowers, some even with the benefit of preventing diseases."