People gathered on Meizhou Island, the sacred ancestral home of the sea goddess Mazu, in Putian, Fujian province,  to count down to the anniversary of her birth on May 8. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Lin Chin-chang, chairman of the Taiwan Lin Clan Association, said that the island is currently experiencing a craze for Mazu, with temples across the region hosting celebrations.

"Mazu is a vital bond for cross-Strait kinship," Lin said, citing the famous nine-day Dajia Jenn Lann Temple pilgrimage as a hallmark of this devotion.