 |
|
A grand worship ceremony marking the 1,058th birthday of sea goddess Mazu is held on the Meizhou Island in Putian, East China's Fujian province on Tuesday. [Photo/Xinhua] |
A grand worship ceremony marking the 1,058th birthday of sea goddess Mazu was held on the Meizhou Island in Putian, East China's Fujian province on Tuesday.
Mazu is the deified form of the historical Lin Mo, a shamaness who lived in the tenth century on Meizhou Island. Revered after her death as a patron of seafarers, including fishermen and sailors, her worship spread throughout China's coastal regions and Chinese communities throughout Southeast Asia.
In 2009, Mazu belief and customs were inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
According to a board member of the Meizhou Mazu Temple, roughly 10,000 Mazu worshippers gathered together on the island for the special day, paying their tributes to the sea goddess.
In addition to the praying ceremony, a raft of local folk custom performances was held on its sidelines.
