Sunday the 19th June 2022, saw the first Dragon Boat Festival for Banja Luka, being held on Lake Manjača organised by both Wake Park Manjača and the Center for Agriculture and Rural Development.

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This unique event promoted Chinese Culture and Healthy Living. This is the first time that people from the Banja Luka area have been able to see close up, Chinese “dragon boats” that symbolise dragons as rulers of water on earth and in the sky.

These small dragon boats are about twelve meters long and have an addition in the form of a dragon's head and tail. Crews consist of ten to twelve members, one of whom is the helmsman and one drummer who gives rhythm to the rowers with drum beats which also symbolises the heartbeat of the dragon.

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Six rowing crews participated in the 200-meter boat race, and the 1000-meter circular race.

The two Dragon boats used were from the Serbian Dragon Boat Federation, who provided help and support in organising the event.

The GOLD medal was won by Dajak klub Banja Luka reinforced by girls from Rafting Klub Kanjon.
Second place went to the Belgrade club "Motion", while in third place were "Dragons from Manjača".

Dajak Klub Banja Luka have already won one first and one fourth place at Dragon boat races at Ada Ciganlija in Belgrade.

As well as the competitive part of the competition, calligraphy workshops were held in cooperation with the Confucius Institute from Banja Luka, who also organised a presentation of Tai Chi and Kung Fu martial arts.

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