Dragon boat festival 2026 returns to Kolkata with chinese cultural performances

The Dragon Boat Festival made a vibrant return to Kolkata after a six-year hiatus, bringing together members of the Chinese and Indian communities in a celebration of culture, tradition and unity.

Recognised by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage, the Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. The festival commemorates the ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan in many parts of China and is marked by dragon boat races, traditional rice dumplings, cultural performances and folk customs.