Dumpling Festival in Singapore 

Dumpling Festival is an unusual parade but is regarded as one of the most important and famous festivals in Singapore. It is also one of the most colourful events in the country where its citizens come together consuming thousands of dumplings all in just one mega event.

Dumpling Festival is an unusual parade but is regarded as one of the most important and famous in Singapore. It is also one of the most colourful festivals in the country where its citizens come together consuming thousands of dumplings all in just one mega event.

The Dumpling Festival which is held annually is enjoyed by both locals and tourists alike. This significant national festival is related to an interesting ancient Chinese legend. Qu Yuan the patriotic poet and statesman is believed to have thrown himself to the Milo River to show his strong disapproval of injustice and corruption caused to the fishermen. It is also believed that the local fishing community tried hard to save his body from the demons. As a result they began to throw rice in to the river as offerings and started to beat drums and gongs.

So, with time this became an annual event. The Chinese community living in Singapore celebrates the Dumpling Festival on the fifth day of the fifth month each year. They celebrate this by organising colourful dragon boat races and consume hundreds and hundreds of dumplings. They relate the dragon races to the search for the body of their beloved Qu Yuan.

Zongzi or dumplings are small rice packets that are enclosed in bamboo leaves. To prevent the dragons from eating the rice packets, the people tied them with bright colour silk threads.

Since recent times many new items have added more colour and excitement to the Dumpling Festival. These new items include lion dances, Chinese opera and orchestra shows and karaoke evenings. The highlight of the festival happens when the people of the parade gather at the Albert Mall.