The rhythmic beat of drums signals the start of the Dragon Boat Festival in Hong Kong, where participants engage in such traditional activities as enjoying rice dumplings and competing in exhilarating boat races.

Dating back over 2,000 years to the legend of the patriotic poet Qu Yuan, who tragically drowned in a river, the festival commemorates the valiant attempts of locals to rescue him by racing out in boats and tossing sticky rice balls into the water to prevent fish from consuming his body.

As well as its historical significance, the festival holds cultural importance as well. According to Law Hon Cheung, a registered traditional Chinese medicine practitioner from the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions (HKFTU) Workers' Medical Clinics, the festival's timing on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese calendar coincides with the onset of the rainy season in many regions, creating favorable conditions for the growth in insectnumbers. This understanding is integral to Chinese medicine, which seeks to align human health with natural cycles.

Traditionally, people used to combat seasonal threats by using pungent herbs like wormwood, calamus, and Chinese mint. Believed to repeldisease, these herbs were often incorporated into the decorations that adorn traditional dragon boats and were used in medicinal remedies to treat ailments common during this time, such as digestive problems, heart problems, and flu.

And as the paddlers gear up for the upcoming races, some embrace these traditions with the hope that incorporating herbs into their preparations might give them an edge. Chris Barnes from the Seagods Team expressed openness to incorporating such practices, emphasizing the potential benefits they could bring to their performance.

While the festival holds deep-rooted traditions for many, for those participating in the races, the focus remains squarely on the competitive spirit driving them forward.