Malaysian Chinese make rice dumplings during a contest held by Hainan Association of Malaysia to commemorate the Dragon Boat Festival at Thean Hou Temple in Kuala Lumpur, Malyasia, June 17, 2007. The Dragon Boat Festival falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, or June 19 this year. During the festival, boat races are held and people eat rice dumplings, which are wrapped up with bamboo leaves and with inside of glutinous rice and various fillings ranging from meaty to confectionery. (Xinhua Photo)

    KUALA LUMPUR, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia held Dragon Boat race and rice dumpling wrapping race on Sunday to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, one of the Chinese traditional festivals.

    About 25,000 people gathered Likas Bay as early as 7 a.m. to watch the 22nd Sabah Dragon Boat race on Sunday in East Malaysia's Sabah State.

    The annual event attracted 31 national and international participants. Followed by the beating of 24 Chinese drums, the invited guests tossed rice dumpling into the sea to mark the beginning of the event.

    Shangri'La Rasa Ria Resort B emerged champion for the Sabah Tourism Trophy category while the Tawau Confederation of Chinese Associations won the Sabah Chinese Cultural Association (SCCA) Chinese Men's Trophy and the Oriental Dolphin won the Sabah Dragon Trophy, according to Malaysia's national news agency Bernama.

    Sabah's local team Terayung won the Sabah Minister's Trophy while the Brunei Darussalam National Boat Race Team A won the Sabah Head of State Trophy, reported by Bernama.

    The Selangor and Federal Territory Hainan Association of Malaysia also held rice dumpling wrapping race to celebrate the festival on Sunday morning in Kuala Lumpur.

    The youngest participant is only 10 years old, and the oldest is 77 years old, who has insisted to take part in the event for 17years and won the Best Spirit Award.

    The Dragon Boat Festival, falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, or June 19 this year. It is for commemorating a patriotic Chinese poet over 2,000 years ago.

    During the festival, boat races are held and people eat rice dumplings. Wrapped up with bamboo leaves and with glutinous rice inside, rice dumpling has various fillings ranging from meaty to confectionery.

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