Korean Festivities: Embrace the Ancient Dano Festival
The lively Dragon Boat Festival is just around the corner. This celebration, originating from Chinese culture, not only livens up riversides across Taiwan but also sees regions with Chinese heritage such as Hong Kong, Macau, and Singapore gearing up to celebrate this summer festival in the fifth lunar month. In addition to the colorful Dragon Boat traditions of Southeast Asia, the Dano Festival held in Gangneung, South Korea, plays a significant role in preserving and promoting traditional customs, while a variety of hands-on experiences make the festivities even more vibrant and enriching.
A ceremony to welcome the deities is held to give thanks to heaven. Photo provided by the Korea Tourism Organization
Designated as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO, the Gangneung Dano Festival is quite different from the traditional image of the Dragon Boat Festival. Spanning from April to June in the Gregorian calendar, the festival peaks around mid-June. The Gangneung Dano Festival is primarily a celebration of heaven, during which all residents set aside their daily tasks to offer thanks through songs, dances, dramas, and welcoming ceremonies for the deities. The “2010 Gangneung Dano Festival” will take place from June 12 to June 19 at the Gangneung Dano Cultural Center and along the Namdaecheon Stream area. During the festival, visitors can enjoy traditional performances, archery and tuho (pitch-pot) games, farmers' band competitions, and various hands-on experiences of traditional folk activities.
The most popular event among visitors during the Gangneung Dano Festival is the deities-welcoming ceremony, which will be held on the evening of June 14. After the ceremony at Daegwallyeong Shrine, the deities’ plaques and sacred tree will be paraded to the welcoming site at the Namdaecheon Altar, accompanied by a procession and traditional farmers’ band performances along the way. Upon arrival at the Namdaecheon Festival venue, a series of Buddhist rituals and mask dance performances will be presented. On June 18, a deities-farewell ceremony will be held, rich in local traditional flavor.
Traditional folk activities. Photo provided by the Korea Tourism Organization
During the Gangneung Dano Festival, visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy Korean cultural performances. This year, through the “Asian Dano Carnival,” an event that facilitates cultural exchanges of Dano traditions from various Asian countries, attendees can enjoy performances such as the farmers' band music of China’s Korean ethnic group, Japanese Awa Odori and Shinto music, as well as traditional dances from Uzbekistan, Russia, Mongolia, and Samoa. Read more: The 400-Year-Old Awa Festival (Provided by Tripass Attractions)
2010 Gangneung Dano Festival
Event Period: June 12 – June 19
Venue: Dano Field and Various Event Sites, Gangneung City, Gangwon Province
Venue Access: Approximately 20 minutes by bus from Gangneung Bus Terminal or Gangneung Station
Inquiry: 033-641-1593 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
Hong Kong Dragon Boat Races
(Video Source / YouTube)
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