The 1,061st birthday of the Chinese sea goddess Mazu was celebrated on Monday on the Meizhou Island of Putian City, east China's Fujian Province.

People came from home and abroad to worship the goddess at the Mazu temple.

A total of 323 drones lit up the night sky to mark the goddess' birthday.

Mazu belief has been prevalent in Fujian for hundreds of years.

Mazu is a deified young woman named Lin Mo who is believed to have lived in the 10th century on Meizhou Island, where she dedicated herself to helping people in need and died attempting to rescue shipwreck victims at the age of 27.