“OXFORD is associated with rowing but Bangladeshi rowing is something else and frankly a lot more exciting and a lot more colourful.”

This was how the Lord Mayor of Oxford, John Goddard, summed up the spectacle of traditional Bangladeshi boat racing when he visited Farmoor Reservoir yesterday to attend the third annual National Nowka Bais boat race.

More than 500 people gathered to watch 22 teams from Bangladeshi communities across the country take to the water, rowing and singing to the beat of drums and cymbals.

The chairman of the Oxfordshire Bangladeshi Association and founder of Nowka Bais, Oxford restaurateur Aziz-Ur Rahman, said: “This is a wonderful day of celebration of traditional culture and diversity.

“This is a sport that is been around in Bangladesh for many, many years and we have brought it here to the UK to let our children see our traditions and let them know what we do in our country.

“But it also gives an opportunity for the British to enjoy this tradition. It is totally different to your University Boat Race – it’s much more colourful, with lots of bright clothing. It’s something new.”

Another spectator was Oxford West and Abingdon MP Nicola Blackwood, who said: “We have quite a large Bangladeshi community in Oxford and it’s great we can let them show us their culture and local residents can come and experience it and be a part of it.”

Among the guests was Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to the UK, Dr M Sayeedur Rahman Khan.

He said: “Bangladesh is a country of rivers, so the sport is very popular, particularly in the rainy season. Because we can hold it in Oxford we can promote our culture, and it helps to integrate the people from different communities.”

He said that in Bangladesh the boats used for river races were much bigger and could hold 80 people.

Nazrun Islam, 35, from Leon Close, Cowley, rowed in the Oxford East team.

He said that although the racing and rowing was hard work, it was important to celebrate his homeland’s traditions.

Trophies, medals and a £1,000 prize were awarded to the winning team.

Spectators on the reservoir bank were entertained by Bangladeshi singers and dancers and could try traditional Bangladeshi food.

The reservoir was being used as the venue for the event for the first time to give spectators a better view than was available along the River Thames at Donnington Bridge, in Oxford, where the races were held for the past two years.

Organiser Rashel Rahman said: “It has grown every single year and this year has been the biggest ever.”