The Lotus Festival at Echo Park originated in 1972, by the Department of Recreation and Parks and members of the Council of Oriental Organizations (COO). The two co-chairpersons for the first five years were volunteers from the Asian Community: Ella Quan and Helen Young. Hazel Young was co-chairperson until the mid 80’s and currently remains as an active member on the Lotus Festival advisory board and planning committee.
The Significance of the Los Angeles Lotus Festival
The lotus flower is significant to the Asian cultures as a symbol of rebirth, purity and life. The festival is held in July when the lotus flower blooms. Echo Park Lake was selected as the site for the event due to its central location of local Asian and Pacific Islander communities and because it houses the largest lotus bed in the United States. The festival was originally named “The Day of the Lotus”, and the purpose was to promote an awareness and understanding of the contributions by the Asian and Pacific Islander people to our culture and to the local and surrounding communities. The first two festivals were one-day affairs, which attracted approximately 15,000 people. Due to the success of the festival, it was expanded to a two-day event.
In 1989, the 12th Annual Day of the Lotus Festival added the island flower show. An annual press conference is held at Echo Park Lake to give media representatives a view of the location where the festival is held and a sampling of the various cultural presentations that would take place at the festival. In 1990, the festival was named “Lotus Festival” with the theme: “The People and Cultures of the Pacific Rim”. The lotus advisory board was developed in 1991, made up of representatives from various Asian and Pacific Islands communities, in order to promote and present the authenticity of their cultures. In 1992, the theme was changed to “The People and Cultures of Asia and the Pacific Islands”. In 1993, the Lotus Festival added the Asian Youth Scholarship Program. In 1994, the festival expanded again by adding a “Pavilion” to focus on the current years highlighted culture. Since the 1991 festival, each year’s attendance is estimated to be well over 150,000 each day. Past participation involved many organizations from the communities in Southern California.
The Dragon Boat Races
The dragon boat races became part of the entertainment when the festival had a Chinese opening day ceremony. City budget cuts curtailed the festival from 1978-1979. In 1980 through 1985, the festival took place once again, due to the generosity of various sponsors.
The dragon boat race is an event full of color noise and excitement! The dragon boats will be racing down Echo Park Lake with drums beating and crowds cheering them on. Races are preceded by the Buddhist blessing of the dragon boats, by the International Buddhist Meditation Center, ensuring safe and successful races.
Echo Park - Los Angeles, CA
Echo Park is a district of Los Angeles, CA located on Park Avenue between Glendale Avenue and Echo Park Boulevard, just north of the Hollywood (101) and Pasadena (110) freeway junction, near Dodger Stadium. The district of Echo Park was originally named Edendale before the construction of the park itself.