1Malaysia International Dragon Boat Festival 2010 at Putrajaya

The first 1Malaysia International Dragon Boat Festival 2010 (1MIDBF 2010) held on 18th – 20th June 2010 in the nation’s administrative capital at Putrajaya brings the colour and excitement of a Chinese tradition to the scenic 650ha lake at Putrajaya Water Sports Complex.

This is the second time Putrajaya played host to the Dragon Boat race which last year was called Putrajaya International Dragon Boat Festival (PIDBF). For this year it was renamed 1Malaysia International Dragon Boat Festival 2010 (1MIDBF 2010) in line with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's vision of 1Malaysia to bring all segments of society in strengthening unity and friendship in this competitive global sporting event.

The excitement and colourful spectacle, with the drums, shouting and colourful boats all helped to draw the crowds in.

Over 1,600 participants from Australia, Canada, Japan, China, Hongkong, Philippines, Macau, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and others paddled toward the finish line in the scenic lakes.

The dragon boat race is divided into two main categories which are the international teams and Malaysia teams.

Tents were also set up with stalls selling food and drinks and promotional items

Mai Tomyam joined in the excitement of watching more than 1,600 paddlers converged at Putrajaya Water Sports Complex in Precinct 6 racing in colourful dragon boats in a heart stopping competition.


Note:The Dragon Boat Festival commemorates the patriotic poet Qu Yuan (340-278 BC). Legend holds that the race originates from the idea of the people who tried to rescue him from drowning in the Miluo River (in his fight for political reform), by rowing their boats, beating drums and throwing rice dumplings to scare the fish away and keep them from eating his flesh.

Colourful boats are fitted with decorative dragon heads on the boat's prow.


The ornately carved and painted dragon heads of the dragon boats which are measured more than 10 metres long and can carry a crew of 20-22 paddlers.


The 1Malaysia International Dragon Boat racing is held at the scenic lakes of Putrajaya Water Sports Complex in Precinct 6.


Sitting two abreast, with a steersman at the back and a drummer at the front, the paddlers race to reach the finishing line.


The dragon boats racing in a lively, vibrant spectacle.


Teams race the elaborately decorated dragon boats to the beat of heavy drums.


The Pink Challengers dragon boat team from the Breast Cancer Welfare Association (BCWA) Kuala Lumpur. The team now stands by the theme "Paddle for Courage, Strength and Change".

The Cathay Pacific dragon boat team in rowing action.


The British Dragon Boat Team in rowing action.


The dragon boat team from the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN).


The Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) dragon boat team.


The Penang Dragon Boat Team.


Team members in a warming up exercise before the race.


A Singapore Paddle Club (SPC) dragon boat team member engaging in some training techniques like yoga before the race.

The Singapore Paddle Club (SPC) dragon boat team.


The Philippine National Police (PNP) Patriots team.


The Kiyah-Splashh! dragon boat team from Singapore.


The Water Warriors Dragonboat Club team from Australia.

The British Dragon Boat Team who are based in Singapore.


Chief trainer Faizal (first from left, back row wearing dark glasses) and his team from the Black Paddle Club of TUDM (Royal Malaysian Air Force) based in Alor Setar, Kedah.
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A paramedic attending to a rower's medical needs.


Hot guys (...and boys too) take their shirts off as the heat is really unbearable with the scorhing sun shining down. Special thanks to Jeff Lau for contributing the photo to this post.


Some take to taking a dip in the lakes to escape the scorching heat.


The Putrajaya Water Sports Complex at Precinct 6 where the 1Malaysia International Dragon Boat Festival was held.


The grandstand seating at the Putrajaya Water Sports Complex where spectators watch the dragon boat race.


The Breast Cancer Welfare Association (BCWA) booth sells merchandise like T-shirts, pouches and silicone wristlets to raise fund to support women affected by breast cancer in Malaysia.


Safra Dragon Boat Club members crowding the famous KFC (Kelantan Fried Chicken) stall selling hot and spicy fried chicken at RM2 a piece. Those who tasted it said it's not as smooth as Kentucky's KFC but the texture makes it even nicer and the coleslaw is great.


The kind people at Indocafe provide free cups of iced-cool Indocafe cofee drinks.


Emily Lau (left) and Farahin at the Evian Facial Spray booth. A 50 ml pack is sold at a promotional price of RM10 and a 150 ml pack at RM25

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Wesak Day floats in Bukit Bintang, KL

A Wesak Day float procession made its way to Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur on Friday evening 28th May 2010 with thousands of spectators and tourists, locals and foreigners, lining up along the road shoulders to take photographs and catch a glimpse of the colourful and brightly lit decorated floats of various designs.

Wesak Day is the most important and sacred day for Buddhists who observe the day of the birth, enlightenment and the passing of Gautama Buddha.

The traditional float procession was among the programmes lined up for Wesak Day celebration on Friday 28th May 2010 at the Buddhist Maha Vihara Temple in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur.

Some 30 colourful and brightly-lit decorated floats of various designs from Buddhist temples and organizations in the Klang Valley participated in the 12km Wesak Day float procession which started from Jalan Berhala in front of Buddhist Maha Vihara Temple and passed through Jalan Sultan Abdul Samad, Jalan Tun Sambanthan 3, Jalan Tun Sambanthan, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, Jalan Petaling, Jalan Yap Ah Loy, Jalan Hang Lekiu, Jalan Gereja, Jalan Raja Chulan, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan Bukit Bintang and Jalan Pudu before returning to the temple.

About 30,000 devotees joined in the 12km walk where they sang hymns and chanted prayers.

The event was launched by the guest of honour, Deputy Information, Communication and Culture Minister Senator Seai Kie at the Buddhist Maha Vihara Temple and witnessed by the Chief High Priest of Malaysia Venerable K. Sri Dhammaratana.

Mai Tomyam took the opportunity to take photographs of the grand Wesak Day float procession.

“One may conquer a thousand men in a thousand battles yet he who conquers himself is the best of conquerors” - Sayings of the Buddha ( Dhammapada )


Related article:
Wesak Day 2010: PM Najib and wife Rosmah visit Buddhist Maha Vihara Temple, Brickfields, KL



Floats going through Jalan Bukit Bintang :
Jalan Bukit Bintang was bustling with tourists when the floats passed through it at about 9.00 pm.


A decorated float carrying a giant image of the Buddha 's head passed through Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lmpur. In the background is the Lot 10 shopping centre.


Tourists and spectators taking photographs of the colourful and brightly-lit decorated floats.
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A float with the Reclining Buddha in front of McDonald's restaurant, Bukit Bintang.


Monks sprinkling holy water at devotees following behind the float.


A float with an image of the Buddha and monks sprinkling holy water.


Large crowd of devotees holding candle lights and lotus flowers filled up Jalan Bukit Bintang as they followed behind the floats carrying images of Buddha.


Devotees carrying banners wishing Happy Wesak Day to all Buddhists.


Devotees walking past the KL Monorail overhead track. Note the train leaving the KL Monorail Bukit Bintang station (background, on the right).


Tourists and spectators lining up along the road shoulders to watch the colourful float procession.


A lion dance troupe taking part in the Wesak Day float procession.


Both adults and children are happy to see the lion dance.


Floats at Jalan Berhala :
The floats assembled at Jalan Berhala in front of Buddhist Maha Vihara Temple in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur where the procession kicked off at 7.00 pm. The sky was still bright then.

The various postures of Buddha images which represent the different stages of his life and teachings come from temples in the Klang Valley and are placed on the decorated floats and carried through the city in a colourful procession. Most of the images of the Buddha portrayed him with serene smile.

A float carrying a Stupa which is a religious monument representing the enlightened mind of the Buddha.


A monk rotates prayer wheels. According to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, rotating such a wheel will have much the same meritorious effect as orally reciting the prayers.


A devotee bathed Little Buddha placed on a float.


Devotees and volunteers carrying the giant thangka (painting) measuring 128 feet by 30 feet during the procession.


The thangka painting of Buddha carried by devotees and volunteers.


A float carrying devotees singing lively Buddhist songs and music.


Devotees holding lotus flowers. The lotus is a Buddhist symbol of purity and goodness and the enlightened mind.
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A tourist watching the colourful floats at Jalan Sultan Abdul Samad near Jalan Berhala in Brickfields, KL.


Floats going through Jalan Tun Sambanthan, Brickfields, KL :

A police patrol car leading the Wesak float procession.


The Buddhist Maha Vihara float at Jalan Tun Sambanthan in front of Public Bank.



Hundreds of people lined up along the road shoulders at Jalan Tun Sambathan to watch the Wesak float procession.



A devotee Susie Wong walks her two miniature pinscher dogs in the Wesak Day float procession.


Buddhist devotees walking in front of Central Market at Jalan Tun Sambanthan.


Floats going through Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock :



Floats going through Jalan Petaling :


The floats at the intersection of Jalan Petaling, Jalan Yap Ah Loy and Jalan Tun H. S. Lee (near Bangkok Bank).


Floats going through Jalan Yap Ah Loy :

The Myanmar Group float in front of Maybank building in Jalan Yap Ah Loy.


Floats going through Jalan Gereja :
The floats passed through the historical Museum Telekom - one of the classic and unique architecture characteristic is the eight Ionia pillars. Formerly the headquarters of Telekom Wilayah Selangor (Selangor region), it was gazetted as a historical building in April 1985.



Devotees walking alongside a float with a statue of the Buddha.


Floats going through Jalan Raja Chulan :
The floats passed through Jalan Raja Chulan in front of Affin Bank head office building.




A float carrying the Bodhi tree - a symbol of the Buddha's presence and an object of worship. It was the Bodhi tree under which the Buddha sat on the night he attained enlightenment.
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