A CRASH OF DRUMS AND THE THRASHING OF PADDLES ON WATER CAN ONLY MEAN ONE THING: DRAGON BOAT RACING. HUGH UJHAZY PLUNGES INTO THE HISTORY OF THIS EXCITING EVENT AHEAD OF TWO RACES SCHEDULED TO TAKE TO THE WATERS AROUND MALAYSIA IN JUNE.

Throughout parts of the US with significant Latino populations, 5 May is known as Cinco de Mayo (literally, "fifth of May"), a day marked as a time to celebrate the cultural values brought by those of Mexican ancestry. The date is also observed in certain parts of Mexico as the day their country took a strategic step towards ending the occupation by France in 1862.The Mexicans took on an army of some 8,000 French infantrymen with a poorly equipped group of only 4,000… and won. The battle took place on 5 May and ultimately led to the French being ousted in 1867 with the help of the Americans, newly unified after the conclusion of their own Civil War in 1865. On the other side of the globe, the fifth day of the fifth month (albeit according to the Chinese Lunar Calendar) is the day of the Dragon Boat Festival. Celebrated in China from 22-24 June, the day has been an occasion for exploring traditional folk customs in China for over 2,000 years.

The festival commemorates the Chinese folk poet Qu Yuan (340-278 BC), who was a minister of the state of Chu, one of seven warring states prior to the unification of China. Slandered by a rival aristocrat and subsequently exiled by the king, Qu Yuan wrote many enduring poems and is regarded as a famous poet in Chinese history. He wrote his final poem, "Embracing the Sand," in 278 BC, after which he threw himself into a river rather than see his beloved country occupied by the Kingdom of Qi. Local people searched the river for the poet's body, sailing up and down in boats and throwing food into the river, hoping to distract fish from eating his body. Thus, dragon boat racing and eating zongi (rice dumplings) have become central elements of the festival.

Dragon boats are named for the shape of the bow and stern of the boat, emulating the look of mythological Chinese dragons. Rowers compete to reach the finish line first, with legend suggesting the winner will bring good harvests and long life to the people of his village. Now, centuries after Qu Yuan threw himself into the river, the boats have been thoroughly modernised and replaced with a lightweight hull, carbon fiber paddles, and teams who train continuously to maintain their form.

Races occur regularly in Hong Kong, Singapore, China, and Japan, and of course in Malaysia. Two big dragon boat events happen around the time of the festival. The Penang Dragon Boat Festival is in its 33rd year and runs from 30 June to 1 July this year. Taking place on the Teluk Bahang Dam in the northwest of Penang island, the event will be bracketed by events in Macau (23 June, also the day of Dragon Boat Festivals throughout China) and Hong Kong (4-8 July).

The Penang event hosts competitions across both 200- and 500-metre courses for men and women, showcasing the 22-racer boats as well as the smaller 12-racer events.The larger boats offer quite a spectacle as the 22 rowers beat the water to a froth as they race for the finish.The 500-metre races are completed in a matter of only four minutes as the rowers propel the boats through the water at almost eight kilometers per hour. Synchronized by a drummer positioned in the bow, rowers must perform together to ensure the boat goes as quickly as possible as they race to claim the winners' trophy.

Over in East Malaysia, the Sabah Dragon Boat Race will be held on 16-17 June. This year marks the event's 27th year and it regularly attracts teams from across Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, and throughout the region. Last year, thousands of locals and visitors attended the event to cheer on local teams and watch the prowess of the rowers. The Sabah Dragon Boat Race is held on Likas Bay off the coast of the capital, Kota Kinabalu.

Whether your interest is confined to the Peninsula or you prefer to wander further afield to Borneo, the Dragon Boat Festival season is a time to indulge in some Chinese culture, spend a day beside the water, and watch some serious competition in a friendly environment.