God pageant ceremonies, or Youshen, a traditional Chinese New Year celebration, were held this Spring Festival in villages and communities across Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian province, attracting visitors from all over the country.

Dating back to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), this folk tradition features vibrant parades of local gods and deities to welcome the spring and celebrate the Spring Festival.

People prepare for the god pageant ceremony at Shangdian village in the Changle district of Fuzhou, Fujian province, Jan. 31, 2025. [Photo by Chen Xinyan/China.org.cn]

People prepare for the god pageant ceremony at Shangdian village in the Changle district of Fuzhou, Fujian province, Jan. 31, 2025. [Photo by Chen Xinyan/China.org.cn]

As part of the custom, villagers carry large sculptures of gods and deities through streets and alleys to dispel evil and avert disasters. As the parade passes, families light firecrackers to seek blessings for themselves and their loved ones living and working away from home.

Heavy participation and long duration are hallmarks of the Youshen festivities. 

The procession can stretch up to 10 kilometers and crowds can number in the tens of thousands, with several thousand participants, including divine generals, deities and percussion teams. The ceremony often extends late into the night, with the parade illuminated by colorful lanterns, firecrackers and fireworks.

Since videos of Youshen in Fujian's Houfu village went viral online last year, more smaller-scale god pageant ceremonies have been held in downtown Fuzhou. Locals join in the parades, walking through the streets and communities to offer an "intangible cultural feast" to visitors from across the country.

"Watching Youshen brings me back to my childhood with my family," said Ms. Yu, one resident participating in the parade in Jin'an, a suburban district of Fuzhou, who asked to be identified only by her first name. "I'm really proud that the tradition is loved by people across the country. I hope it continues to thrive."

People prepare a large god sculpture in the Jin'an district of Fuzhou, Fujian province, Feb. 3, 2025. [Photo by Chen Xinyan/China.org.cn]

Locals perform a drum dance in front of sculptures of gods and deities in the Jin'an district of Fuzhou, Fujian province, Feb. 3, 2025. [Photo by Chen Xinyan/China.org.cn]