Bangkok, 19 November, 2019 – Thai Tourism and Sports Minister, H.E. Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, recently chaired a ceremony to welcome a statue of the Chinese sea goddess Mazu, during her six-day visit to Thailand for cultural exchanges.
Flown from China’s Fujian province, Mazu was carried in a procession in Bangkok’s Chinatown on Sunday, 17 November, 2019.
According to Xinhuanet, “Mazu is the deified form of a devoted woman named Lin Mo, who lived in the 10th century, dedicated herself to helping those in need, and died attempting to rescue shipwreck victims at the age of 27. In memory of Mazu’s benevolence and dedication to others, local people started venerating her statue and consecrating her as the goddess of oceans who could bring peace, fortune and good luck. In 2009, Mazu beliefs and customs were inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.”
