A SEA of green and red and the sound of cymbals and drums filled Farmoor Reservoir yesterday for the Bangladeshi community’s annual boat race.
It is the fourth Nowka Bais boat race, and an estimated 2,000 people came to see 18 teams pit themselves against each other in traditional Bangladeshi boats.
Founder Aziz-Ur Rahman, who is also chairman of the Oxfordshire Bangladeshi Association, said: “The event is growing each year.
“It’s been such a wonderful day, a day of celebration of culture and diversity.”
Teams came from all over the country, and fans of the sport were bussed in from as far as Wales.
Among those taking part was Yousif Shahab, 19, from Abingdon, who rowed with the Oxford East Bengal Tigers .
He said: “It was really good, a good competition. This was my first day on the boat.
“It’s been a really good day.”
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