Who are the Nine Emperor Gods, sons of the Goddess of the North Star?

Various dragon dance troupes take part in a celebration on the second day of the ninth lunar month during the Nine Emperor Gods Festival in Ampang New Village, Selangor. — Filepic

Each year, the annual Nine Emperor Gods Festival is celebrated from the first to the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. These gods are believed to be the nine sons of Dou Mu, the Goddess of the North Star, who holds the Registrar of Life and Death.

The deities are popular as they are believed to be able to cure illnesses and confer luck, wealth and longevity. The Nine Emperor Gods (Jiu Wang Ye in Mandarin) are also referred to as Jiu Huang Da Di (The Nine Great Emperors) in the Taoist pantheon.