PENANG: Spirited drum beats, cymbals and firecrackers filled the air as about 60 fishing boats accompanied a leading vessel bearing a statue of the Sea Goddess Mazu to commemorate her 1,044th birthday yesterday.
Thousands of devotees and fishermen gathered at the Butterworth coast and the eastern part of Penang island as early as 5am to pay homage to the patron goddess of seafarers, whose statue was brought from Tian Hou Temple in Kuala Lumpur.
