The Na Tcha Temple Association held its annual blessing ceremony yesterday in front of Na Tcha Temple near the Ruins of St Paul’s, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage-listed properties.
Ip Tat, president of the association and one of the eight official inheritors of Macau’s seven statutorily protected items of intangible cultural heritage, said in an address that through the ceremony, the association’s primary aim is to carry forward and promote traditional culture, while, at the same time, better conveying the essence and history of the Na Tcha folk belief.
“Through this grand cultural celebration, we also seek to tell the stories of China and Macau well”, he said.
Ip underlined that this year’s event boasts more highlights than in previous years, with a significant upgrade in both scale and promotional efforts, in preparation for a major feature film project aimed at establishing Na Tcha culture as a signature cultural emblem of Macau.
The Na Tcha Procession and Float Parade, according to Ip, is scheduled to set off at 2 p.m. today from in front of the Ruins of St. Paul’s. The association has invited over 40 performance groups from across China’s Taiwan region, Hong Kong, Macau and overseas to take part, making for an impressive and grand celebration, Ip said.
Through this folk event, Ip said the association hopes to attract more visitors from outside Macau to the local communities, stimulating consumption and driving economic activity.
During the ceremony, blessing bags were distributed and a “seal-opening for good fortune” activity was held, which enabled members of the public to bring items of clothing to be stamped with the temple seal as a harbinger for good health.
Na Tcha (“Nezha” in Putonghua) is one of Daoism’s most popular tutelary deities.
Na Tcha Temple Association President Ip Tat (eighth from left), Legislative Assembly (AL) Vice President Alan Ho Ion Sang (seventh from left) and other representatives pose during a blessing ceremony held in front of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Na Tcha Temple near the Ruins of St Paul’s, yesterday. – Photos: Armindo Neves
Na Tcha Temple Association Youth Division head Kuok Pak Yu (wearing sun glasses on top of her head) and division members get their blessing stamps taken during the traditional “seal-opening for good fortune” activity in from of the temple yesterday.
