Dragon-Boat Festival at Lesha
樂山水光山色獨特,地理環(huán)境優(yōu)越,素有“綠揚夾岸水平鋪”之稱,舉行龍舟競渡得天獨厚。
Famous for its “tranquil river fringed with rich vegetation,”Leshan in Sichuan Province has theideal setting for its Dragon-Boat Festival.
樂山龍舟會融文化、藝術(shù)、經(jīng)濟、旅游、體育為一體,規(guī)模宏大,更具地方特色。每年農(nóng)歷五月初五,數(shù)十萬樂山人民歡慶端午佳節(jié),觀賞嘉州風采。
The traditional Dragon-Boat Festival, a scene of bustling activity, blends Leshan's culture,arts, economy, tourism and athletics into a wealth of features. On the fifth day of the fifthlunar month (early in June) each year, thousands upon thousands of Leshan people gathertogether along with tourists to celebrate the festival and enjoy the scenic splendor of Jiazhou,Leshan's ancient name.
江岸上彩樓林立,彩燈高懸,旌旗飄搖,呈現(xiàn)出一派喜氣洋洋的節(jié)曰場面。千姿百態(tài)的各式彩龍在江面游弋,舒展著優(yōu)美的身姿,有的搖頭擺尾,風采突突;有的噴火吐水,威風八面。
High-rise buildings ornamented with colored lanterns and bright banners stand out along theriver banks. On the river itself, gaily decorated dragon-shaped boats await their challenge,displaying their individual charms to their hearts' content. One boat wags its head and tail;another spits fire and sprays water.
信號彈劃過上空,龍舟奪標開始了。各色各狀造型的“蟻龍”如箭離弦,順流而下,欲爭群龍首。此時,樂曲響徹江面,皮鼓冬冬,銅鑼當當。耗子高昂。每只龍舟上,身著一色的14名健兒分列兩舷。健兒們激浪高歌,狠勁猛劃,奮力沖刺;兩岸山呼海嘯,滾起陣陣“加油”聲。“千頃水面琉璃滑,百艘龍舟競爭先。”
As the starter’s gun booms, the boats spring into action. Rows of dragons pull downstream,each striving to take the lead. In rhythm with the competition, wild music clangs across theriver, as drums, gongs and horns sound enthusiastically. Seven pairs of athletes on eachboat, bright in their team colors, row with tremendous outbursts of strength and chant inunison over the crest of every wave. The river rings with fervent cheers of "GO! Row! Go!Row!" from the banks, to the rhythm of the athletes oars. "The river extends as far as youreyes can see; Hundreds of dragon boats compete in a race for the winner."
傳統(tǒng)的搶鴨子競賽也是龍舟會上精彩紛呈的項目之—,是白天活動的高潮。一只只鴨子拋向空中,嘎嘎叫著撲騰到水面。龍舟上敲著急促的鑼鼓,劃槳奮力擊水,圍追堵截,鴨子撲打著翅膀紛紛逃避。只見搶鴨子勇士跪蹲船頭,雙眼凝視著獵物,一旦接近目標,便眼疾手快地躍人水中,眼看鴨子在劫難逃,不料它們狡黠異常,竟然悄悄地潛水遁去,消逝得無影無蹤。然后,暫停鼓鑼,船上岸邊的人們聚精會神拍視著水面,一當鴨子露面,立刻喊聲乍起,各船迅速撥轉(zhuǎn)船頭重新“圍剿”“水面立時鑼鼓喧天。就在小伙子躍人水中—剎那,鴨子再次潛入水中逃出重圍。觀眾中響起一片掌聲,為搶鴨手鼓勁加油。搶鴨勇士個個躍躍欲試,浪尖逐角。那些搶到鴨子的勇士們,激情滿懷地把捕獲物高高舉起,贏來了船上和岸上的陣陣歡呼聲和熱烈的掌聲。據(jù)說,搶到鴨子的小伙子可博得姑娘的青睞。
A highlight during this festive occasion is the customary chasing of ducks on the river, theclimax of the daytime activity. Quacking ducks are tossed up over the water one after another.Immediately from the dragon boats, drums and gongs beat furiously as oarsmen strain theirmuscles to chase the floating ducks. The chasers crouch near the bow, their eyes fixed on theprey. On approaching the ducks, they plunge into the river. But the ducks are tricky, theyquickly dive underwater and vanish. For a moment, drums and gongs stop. Both participantsand onlookers hold their breath in anticipation, eyes wide open, sweeping the river in search ofthe targets. No sooner does a duck appear than shouts of excitement echo from bank to bankagain, accompanied by thunderous rolls from the drums and the gongs. The young rowerswarm to their work and continue the chase, but when they jump into the river, the ducks onceagain dive under. Spectators break into applause to cheer the chasers on. Those who catchthe ducks lift their catch high in the air to show their courage. A storm of applause and cheersrises everywhere. It has been said that those who succeed in the game of chasing ducks canalso win the love of the girls!
晚上的夜游活動堪稱壓軸節(jié)目。夜幕降臨,樂山上空禮炮轟隆, 彩燈光芒四溢。河面各只彩船上無數(shù)五顏六色的霓虹燈、日光燈齊放光華,閃爍迷離,和水中倒影連成一片。漂燈點綴河面,似萬點繁星 墜落人間。在奇光異彩交相輝映中,眾多的龍舟如銀河流星,順河而下,千姿百態(tài),令人叫絕。在探照燈的掃射下,河面激起變幻莫測的五彩霞光。一時間,呈現(xiàn)出一幅光的天地、色的世界。
Evening activity brings another exciting moment to the festival. As night falls, salutes from thecity cannon thunder across the sky, a signal for countless bright lights to flash alive on all thedragon boats up and down the river. Those myriad-light boats become a riot of color whichblends most subtly with colors from the river's reflected surface. As the dragon boats rowslowly and silently downstream,seach lights along the shore highlight the procession ofsparkling beauty. For a moment,before all fades to night, the spectators both afloat andashore share this beautiful picture of universal bright-ness and magical color.