PROCESSION; GIRL PLAYS ROLE OF GODDESS; FAN DANCERS; LION AND DRAGON DANCERS.




Initials DHC/VS/JH/ES



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Background: THIS WEEK (TUESDAY) FOLLOWERS OF THE TAOIST RELIGION CELEBRATED THE FESTIVAL OF TIN HAU, GODDESS OF HEAVEN AND PROTECTRESS OF SEAFARERS.

THE PROCESSION WOUND FOR TWO MILES THROUGH THE TOWN OF TUAN LONG, IN HONG KONG'S NEW TERRITORIES. THE THEME THIS YEAR WAS THE COLONY'S ORIGINS AS A FISHING PORT.

COLOURFUL CHINESE LION AND DRAGON DANCES HIGHLIGHTED THE FESTIVAL. THE ROLE OF THE GODDESS TIN HAU WAS PLAYED BY A YOUNG GIRL DRESSED IN WHITE TO SIGNIFY PURITY.

LIKE MOST TAOIST FESTIVALS, EVERYTHING WAS DONE ON A LAVISH SCALE -- TAOIST ORGANISATIONS AND BUSINESSMEN DONATED 1 MILLION HONG KONG DOLLARS (STERLING GBP63,000) TO MAKE THE OCCASION A SUCCESS.

TIN HAU IS A POPULAR FIGURE OF WORSHIP AMONG HONG KONG TAOISTS. ABOUT 250,000 PEOPLE PRAY DIRECTLY TO THE GODDESS.

TAOSIM IS BASED ON THE RELIGIOUS DOCTRINE OF LAO-TSE, A CHINESE PHILOSOPHER WHO LIVED ABOUT 500 B.C.