The Taoist Na Tcha Festival has returned to the streets of Macao for the first time since the lifting of Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.
In Taoist folklore, Na Tcha was a magical child who became a deity tasked with ensuring justice. Locally, he is celebrated with a week of festivities involving Cantonese opera performances, community dinners, a temple fair, special talks and ceremonies.
The climax of this year’s celebrations is a parade on 4 July. At 2:30 pm, a procession of floats will depart from near the Ruins of St Paul, bound for Senado Square, and end up at the Na Tcha temple area at 3:00 pm. According to Jornal Tribuna de Macau, some 500 performers and celebrants will take part in the event.
[See more: The Macao International Parade is making a comeback]
On 5 July, the last day of the festivities, three Lion Dance teams will stage performances in Areia Preta, Rua da Felicidade and Rua da Praia do Manduco, as well as in Taipa, to bestow good fortune and prosperity on local communities.
The Na Tcha Festival is one of a number of events staging a comeback in the wake of the pandemic.
The Procession of Saint Anthony – one of Macao’s oldest religious traditions – took place last month, while May saw the return of the famous drunken dragon dance and the Procession of Our Lady of Fátima, both after a three-year hiatus.
