Long wait brings spirited turnout for Tin Hau parade

Devotees braved the rain to take in the Yuen Long Tin Hau Festival procession yesterday and to express their hopes for a peaceful and prosperous year ahead.

It marked an end to a four-year hiatus caused by the pandemic for an event that boasts a 50-year history and takes place on the 23rd day of the third lunar month each year on the birthday of Tin Hau, goddess of the sea and patron saint of fishermen.

The procession featured 34 teams behind the fa pau, large floral tributes made from bamboo and paper, as well as performers from villages staging dragon, lion, unicorn and Yingge dances.

The procession started at the town center and made its way through Hop Yick and Kau Yuk roads, Long Ngai Path and Ma Tin Road to Tai Shu Ha Tin Hau Temple.

Dignitaries at the event included home and youth affairs secretary Alice Mak Mei-kuen, Heung Yee Kuk chief Kenneth Lau Ip-keung and Shap Pat Heung Rural Committee chairman Ching Chan-ming.

People began waiting along both sides of the route as early as 9 am, and the crowd steadily grew until around 11 am.

A district resident, Lau, was among those arriving at 9 am. Lau, who attends the event every year, said that "since we were unable to see the parade in the past few years, we are all very eager to see it now."

A teenage girl, Chan, who came with her father, was excited over the lion and dragon dances. "I used to come here every year [before the pandemic] because I live nearby, but it's more tiring in the rain."

Her father said the family planned to visit the Tin Hau temple nearby to pray for global peace and good health.

Another resident, Chung, attended the event for the first time with his four-year-old daughter.

"Since this year's event coincided with a public holiday, I decided to come and teach my daughter about the traditional customs associated with Tin Hau's birthday," he said.