Banning dragon boat races will put kibosh on festival

IN RECENT DAYS, a number of local governments across the country have directly or indirectly banned dragon boat races. Fawan.com comments:

Some local officials said that by issuing the bans they hoped to prevent any accidents. And there can be no doubt the bans are related to the tragedy two months ago in which 17 people died in an accident involving two dragon boats on the Taohua River in Guilin in South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

However, it is improper for local governments to issue official documents banning dragon boat activities. Dragon boat racing has become a tradition in what was once a ceremony in honor of the dragon god who presided over the realm of water, including the rains necessary for a good harvest.