On the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, celebrated as the Double Ninth Festival on October 11, the Chinese community in New York held a grand autumn ritual at the Mazu Temple in Flushing. This event commemorated the 1037th anniversary of Mazu’s ascension to immortality. Organized by the American Mazu Foundation, the event also announced that the second Global Mazu Culture Forum will take place at the United Nations on October 18, celebrating the 15th anniversary of Mazu customs being listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Since 2015, the American Mazu Temple has hosted annual spring and autumn festivals to unite its followers and promote the spirit of “virtue, kindness, and great love” embodied by Mazu. This year, the autumn festival was officiated by Zhu Rongbin, chairman of the American Mazu Foundation, in a solemn ceremony. Co-founder Huang Shengfa and current chairwoman Huang Mingping participated alongside community representatives to conduct the ritual, praying for favorable weather, world peace, and the well-being of all people. Community leaders expressed their belief that the universal spirit of Mazu’s love could help mend US-China relations for the benefit of both nations.
Huang Mingping highlighted that Mazu is one of the three major deities of the Chinese nation and is revered as the ancient sea goddess. With Mazu customs successfully recognized, the culture has evolved into an academic discipline, contributing significantly to human spiritual and material wealth. She emphasized that the upcoming Global Mazu Culture Forum represents a milestone event that revitalizes Mazu culture while enhancing its international impact. This initiative not only boosts the visibility and reputation of Mazu culture but also promotes the transmission of these customs, instilling a sense of duty to protect and preserve the world’s intangible cultural heritage.
