A month-long celebration honoring the sea goddess Mazu has recently commenced on Meizhou Island in Putian, Fujian province.

The event will run until the end of April.

During the launch ceremony on March 29, nearly 10,000 devotees gathered in Meizhou to pay tribute to Mazu, a revered sea goddess worshipped on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

Over 30 folk performance groups from various regions also paid their respects to Mazu.

Among the performances were dragon dance teams, lion dance teams, English song and dance groups, chest drum dance performers and martial arts teams.