PHOTOS, VIDEO: The first Hungarian Danube Lights Festival in Budapest

The Hungarian Water Tours Association (Magyar Vízitúra Szövetség) organised the so-called first Danube Lights Festival this year in Budapest. Here are some photos of the event. We can tell in advance that the decorated kayaks, canoes and dragon boats were welcomed by the ovation of the spectators standing and walking on the Danube bridges, and the wharves. Furthermore, drivers were honking. The event aims to establish a tradition in the Hungarian capital.

According to telex.hu, a Hungarian news outlet taking part in the festival, more than 130 rowers assembled on Tuesday evening on the Római part, Budapest’s famous Danube shore in the 3rd district. They brought two dozens of sea kayaks, tour canoes and two dragon boats.

Thankfully, the strong wind ceased by then, so the people could easily row the 16 kilometres despite the relatively cold weather.

Here are some additional photos:

Zsófia Bruckner, one of the main organisers, said she took part in a similar event in Copenhagen and wanted to adapt it in Budapest. There, it has a long tradition due to the Vikings. On the Day of Saint Lucy, rowers bring light to the dark waters in Sweden and Denmark. Hundreds row while thousands greet them from the shores.

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The author of Telex’s article, Gábor Tenczer, says it was scary, at the beginning, how close one or two kayaks and canoes got to them in the dark. But all of them were under the control of experienced steerspeople.

The ‘Dragons of the Danube’ (Dunai Sárkányok) on their way to the Római beach in Budapest:

And two photos:

Interestingly, the Danube was not too kind to the rowers. After they passed the Margaret bridge and reached the area in front of the parliament, sometimes they faced waves higher than 0.5 metres. However, the river water was not colder than the air above.

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The author said that the two hours that passed during the rowing passed quickly. Furthermore, he did not even get wet despite the waves crashing over their canoe.

Here are the photos of the Explorers – Felfedezők:

Photo: MTI

Source: telex.hu