Bangkok--17 Apr--Macau Government Tourist Office (Thailand)
A-Ma Festival was celebrated for the Goddess of Seafarers is indisputably the most popular deity in Macau. The famous A-Ma temple in Macau’s Inner Harbor now stands on the spot where the boat reached land safely. The annual A-Ma Festival falls on 22/4 this year. Visitors are welcome to enjoy the Chinese Opera Performance, Lion Dancing and Dragon Dancing in the environs of the World Heritage-listed A-Ma Temple from 20/4 to 24/4, 2:30 pm at Barra Square. This festival is very important to the Macanese because they believe that if they pray the worshiping to the Goddess A-Ma during this festival, she will bless every wishes to become true for a whole year.
A-Ma, the Goddess of Seafarers and is particularly revered in Macau. Also known as Tin Hau, she is the deity of fisher folk and other seafarers. Legend told of the story where a junk, while sailing across the South China Sea, was caught in a tremendous storm and was about to sink. All aboard were terrified but at the last minute, a beautiful young woman stood up and ordered the elements to calm down. It did and the junk reached land safely. This mysterious woman is none other than the Goddess A-Ma. A temple was built on the spot where she landed and it is still there to this day, on the Inner Harbor. The name Macau came to be when many centuries later, when Portuguese soldiers asked for the name of the place, the locals replied "A-Ma-Gao" (Bay of A-Ma). It was eventually shortened to Macau. In recent times, a statue of A-Ma was erected on the highest point of Coloane Island. The A-Ma Festival, is reflected the harmony and interweave between Taoism, Buddhism and the local belief.
Whats On:
- The Chinese Opera Performance 20 – 24 /04 /14 at 2.30 pm.
- The Chinese Lion Dance 20/04/14 at 2.30 p.m.
- The Dragon Dance at 2.30 p.m.
For more information: http://whatson.macautourism.gov.mo
Macau Government Tourist Office (Thailand): Phromkanang Chaiprom Tel./Fax 0 2650 9336