CHINA: Thousands people hold a candle vigil at China's Dragon-boat Festival to mourn quake victims

Record ID: 606904

  • Title: CHINA: Thousands people hold a candle vigil at China's Dragon-boat Festival to mourn quake victims
  • Date: 25th May 2008
  • Summary: PEOPLE BUYING FLOATING PAPER LOTUS MAN SELLING LANTERN MAN WRITING WISHES ON PAPER LOTUS WOMAN AND CHILDREN LIGHTING CANDLE ON PAPER LOTUS WOMAN PLACING PAPER LOTUS INTO RIVER (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) MR. WANG, CHENGDU CITIZEN, SAYING: "For the countrymen who died at the Wenchuan earthquake, I wish them peace in heaven." MAN WITH FAMILY PUTTING LOTUS INTO WATER MAN RELEASIN
  • Embargoed: 9th June 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes,Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVA3FWNBWZR6WF8M1UWNT7KMMWXL
  • Story Text: Thousands of people in earthquake-struck Sichuan province float candle-lit flowers down a river at China's Dragon-boat Festival to pay their respect for tens of thousands of victims died at the quake.
    It is a Dragon-boat festival without dragon boat races in southwestern province of Sichuan.
    Thousands of people from Chengdu, capital of Sichuan, gathered at a city river at the traditional Dragon-boat Festival to hold a candle vigil for victims died at a devastating earthquake on May 12.
    The 7.9-magnitude earthquake that hit Sichuan has killed 69,122 people, and 17,991 more were missing and likely dead, according to the official figures.
    By the Jinjiang river which flows through the centre of Chengdu, it is a local tradition to write messages on paper-made lotus for deceased family members and make wishes, light candles, and let them float down the river.
    But this year, almost everyone related their wishes to earthquake victims.

    "For the countrymen who died at the Wenchuan earthquake, I wish them peace in heaven," Mr. Wang, Chengdu citizen said, while preparing to float the lotus.
    Traditionally, Chinese believe that flowing rivers can take messages to people who died and lived in another world.
    At a square by the Jinjiang River, people were also preparing red lanterns for the tribute.

    "I want to use this opportunity to wish all the people in Sichuan, and people in China, happiness and safety. Our country is even stronger and come on, Sichuan, come on, China," Sun Guanghui, a university student said, with a T-Shirt reading "May 12, Wenchuan"
    on one side, and "Be strong Sichuan, Be strong, China" on the other.
    Wenchuan is the epicenter of the May 12 earthquake, which became the symbol of the quake.
    The riverbank became crowded with families queuing to pay their respect to victims and send wishes to people affected by the quake.

    "I wish my little friends from the earthquake-affected areas can recover soon and come back to school. We are families," a eight-year-old Yang Hanqi said.
    The annual dragon boat races were canceled this year in Chengdu, but the candle vigil made the festival even more special, according to Zhou Hong, mother of the little girl.

    "We came here to pray especially for the people affected by the earthquake, and it is different from that of previous years. The dragon boat races were replaced by the vigil, because it was not the time for celebration, and I think it is more meaningful and fits the current situation. I want my child to feel that we are all from a big family," Zhou said.
    It was also a good opportunity for the children to feel the love of people and the country, the mother added.
    The Dragon-boat Festival begins at May 5 at Chinese calendar which commemorates a great Poet Qu Yuan, and is often celebrated with dragon boat races and banana-wrapped stick rice.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: Footage contains identifiable children: users must ensure that they comply with local laws and regulations governing the publishing of this material.
Register