The birthday of Mazu, the Goddess of the Sea, celebrated with due solemnity

#TheGreatBeautyofGuangdong The Mazu Festival usually falls on the 23rd of the 3rd month of the Chinese lunar calendar. And this time it falls on May 12. This traditional folk festival is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Mazu, the Goddess of the Sea, worshiped by fishermen, sailors, and coastal communities in China. In Shipai Village, Tianhe District, Guangzhou City, the festival is also dubbed “Niangma’s Birthday” (Niangma is another name for Mazu). The village has a history of over 750 years of celebrating the festival since the early Qing Dynasty. The villagers pray for peace and prosperity on this special occasion.

This year they started the celebration with a parade which began with a ceremony seeking blessings at 8 am on May 12, the birthday of Mazu. This is the biggest-ever parade in Shipai that features a lion dance, drums, and music. What a lively and festive scene!

巡游队伍从石牌村朝阳东大街出发，一路上锣鼓喧天，鼓乐齐鸣

农历三月廿三是传统的妈祖诞民俗节日，又称“天后诞”。在广州市天河区石牌村，这一节日被称作“娘妈诞”。石牌村建村750多年，祭祀妈祖的习俗可以追溯到清代初期，并延续至今，承载着对风调雨顺、国泰民安的美好愿景。

今年5月12日是正诞日，当天上午8时，妈祖诞的“重头戏”——巡游祈福正式开始。这是石牌村有史以来最盛大的一次妈祖诞巡游。巡游队伍一路上狮舞助兴，鼓乐齐鸣，场面热闹喜庆。

文/羊城晚报全媒体记者 符畅 通讯员 池焰铖

图/羊城晚报全媒体记者 周巍