The Guangzhou Mazu Culture Tourism Festival, an event in honor of the sea goddess Mazu featuring a number of traditional rituals and cultural shows, kicked off its 11th edition on April 26 at Nansha Tianhou Palace.

The 11th Guangzhou Mazu Culture Tourism Festival gets underway at Nansha Tianhou Palace on April 26. [Photo/Guangzhou Daily]

Mazu, whose real name is believed to be Lin Mo (960-987), is a deified figure widely worshiped in the coastal areas of many parts of China. There are many stories about Mazu helping people during shipwrecks and the goddess of sea has over 100 million believers in more than 20 countries, with the number increasing every year. 

More than 300 people, dressed in traditional clothing, performed a large-scale Mazu worship ritual, strictly following the traditions in reading the oration, playing instruments, and performing special etiquettes.

This year, the organizers invited artists from Longli county of Guizhou province to stage a distinctive dance of the local Miao ethnic group.

People dress up to perform the Mazu-worshipping rituals. [Photo/Guangzhou Daily]

This year is the 1,059th anniversary of Mazu's birth and to celebrate the sea goddess's birthday, the scenic spot has made a series of arrangements under the theme of the "1059th Anniversary" including 1,059 small bags of rice and 1,059 bags of noodles which offer blessings of safety and longevity respectively.

The cultural tourism festival attracts numerous people from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia to worship each year, and plays an important role in forging cultural bonds in the Greater Bay Area.

Cultural shows are held on stage at Nansha Tianhou Palace, which is located on the southeastern slope of Dajiao Mountain in Guangzhou. [Photo/Guangzhou Daily]