Recently, the Gulao Water Town in Heshan City, Jiangmen, was filled with the sounds of gongs and drums, and a buzz of excitement. The much-anticipated launching ceremony for the new dragon boat was held as scheduled on the river in front of the Mo'an Huang Ancestral Hall. At dawn, villagers of all ages gathered along the riverbank near the ancestral hall, eagerly waiting for the new boat to be revealed and fully immersing themselves in this beloved annual water town tradition.

The ceremony officially began inside the ancestral hall with two solemn yet lively rituals: adorning the dragon head with golden floral ornaments and dotting its eyes. Invited dignitaries, holding brushes, took turns dotting cinnabar on the eyes of the new dragon boat's dragon head, each stroke carrying wishes for good harvests, peace and prosperity for the nation, and smooth sailing for the dragon boat.

Around 8 a.m., amid the crackling of firecrackers and the resounding beat of gongs and drums, the brand-new dragon boat was slowly guided into the river in front of the ancestral hall, officially taking to the water for its maiden voyage. During the launching ceremony, the "lucky child riders" ritual stood out as a vivid snapshot of Lingnan dragon boat culture in action. Several toddlers, some only a few years old, climbed aboard the dragon boat under the watchful eyes of their elders. Their small, tender figures sitting in the hull created a charming contrast with the time-honored boat.

Afterwards, the new dragon boat, surrounded by crowds, made its way to the Laorenhe Dragon Boat Workshop in the Dragon Boat Park. There, a ceremony was held in which the boat passed through the Dragon Gate and carp were released as a prayer for calm waters and safe races in the water town. This series of traditional rituals faithfully recreated the dragon boat customs passed down through generations in Gulao Water Town.

古劳水乡新龙船仪式感拉满，千人民俗盛会开幕

近日，江门鹤山古劳水乡锣鼓喧天、人声鼎沸，默庵黄公祠前河涌之上，一场热闹隆重的新龙船骏水仪式如期上演。清晨时分，不少村民扶老携幼齐聚祠堂河畔，大家满怀期待等候新龙船亮相，沉浸式迎接这场一年一度的水乡盛事。

仪式在祠堂内正式开启，扎金花、龙头点睛环节庄重又热闹。受邀的知名人士手持点睛笔，依次为新龙船龙头点上朱砂，一笔一画寄托着风调雨顺、国泰民安、龙舟顺遂的美好祈愿。

上午8时许，伴随着阵阵鞭炮与铿锵锣鼓，崭新的龙船缓缓推入祠堂门前的河涌，正式骏水启航。骏水仪式中，“扒童子”环节格外亮眼，成为传承岭南龙舟文化的生动缩影。不少几岁大的孩童在长辈的陪伴下登上龙舟，稚嫩的身影落座船身，小小的身躯与古朴的龙船相映成趣。

随后，新龙船在众人簇拥下前往龙舟公园老仁和龙船铺，举行过龙门、放鲤鱼祈福仪式，祈求水乡风平浪静、竞渡平安。一系列传统流程，完整复刻着古劳水乡代代相传的龙舟习俗。

文、图 | 记者 彭纪宁 梁正杰 通讯员 胡梓文 张浩嘉
翻译 | 黄健新
审校 | 曾敏