Devotees flock to Meizhou for sea goddess celebrations

A grand ceremony was held on Meizhou Island, the sacred ancestral home of the sea goddess Mazu, in Putian, Fujian province, on Saturday to mark the 1,066th anniversary of her birth.

The celebration of the Mazu spirit brought together representatives from cultural institutions, overseas Chinese, and guests from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, alongside prominent entrepreneurs and thousands of devotees from around the world.

Mazu was fisherwoman who sacrificed herself to save others and is regarded as a cultural symbol of mutual assistance, peace and shared heritage among many Chinese people.