Thousands celebrate sea goddess in Fujian

More than 10,000 people gathered in Meilin village in Nanjing county, Fujian province, on May 11 to celebrate the birth of Mazu, the sea goddess.

Many overseas Chinese trace their roots to Meilin, said Wei Maoxiang of the village's Mazu council. People have moved to other countries to work for centuries.

"Their families set up the Tianhou Temple in the late Ming Dynasty to pray for health and safety. Gradually, Nanjing county, a world cultural heritage site, formed a unique tulou Mazu cultural festival," Wei added, referring to earthen buildings.

On that day, people carried a Mazu statue in a sedan chair from the temple and through the village, where people made sacrificial offerings. Everywhere the Mazu statue went, villagers lit candles, burned incense and prayed for their families' health.

Young man carried the Mazu statue across the river, and dozens of villagers played the role of water monsters to stop them. Finally, the statue was sent back to the temple.