New Year tribute to Goddess of the Sea
Swathed in white and bearing bouquets of lilies, thousands of practitioners of the Afro-Brazilian Umbanda faith gathered to honor the Sea Goddess Iemanjá in a traditional New Year tribute on Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana beach. Worshippers present gifts to the Sea Goddess at the end of each year, to give thanks and ask for blessings for the upcoming new year.
In this photo, a follower of Umbanda carries offerings for Iemanjá into the water at Copacabana Beach, Dec. 29, 2015.
Iemanjá - Goddess of the Sea
A worshipper carries a handmade boat on her head to send it into the sea as a year end offering to Iemanjá at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro on Dec. 29, 2015.
Umbanda is a blend of Catholicism, indigenous beliefs, traditions of the Yoruba people brought from West Africa as slaves and spiritism. The religion is a little over a century old.
Iemanjá - Goddess of the Sea
Followers of Umbanda carry an image of Goddess of the Sea Iemanjá towards the shoreline at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Dec. 27, 2015.
Iemanjá - Goddess of the Sea
Followers of Umbanda carry offerings for Iemanjá, Goddess of the Sea, at in Rio de Janeiro, Dec. 27, 2015.
The goddess is offered flowers, perfume and rice among other gifts which are all put into small boats set out in the ocean.
Iemanjá - Goddess of the Sea
A worshipper sends a handmade boat into the sea as a year end offering to Iemanjá at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro on Dec. 29, 2015.
Iemanjá - Goddess of the Sea
A follower of Umbanda pays tribute to Iemanjá with white flowers at Copacabana Beach, Dec. 29, 2015.
Iemanjá - Goddess of the Sea
Worshippers pray as they proceed to make their year end offerings to Iemanjá at Copacabana Beach on Dec. 29, 2015.
White and blue are the colors of Umbanda.
Iemanjá - Goddess of the Sea
A follower of Umbanda holds an image of Iemanjá as she pays her a tribute at Copacabana Beach, Dec. 29, 2015.
Iemanjá - Goddess of the Sea
A follower of Umbanda swims after paying tribute to Iemanjá at Copacabana Beach, Dec. 29, 2015.
Iemanjá - Goddess of the Sea
Worshippers take part in a procession carrying handmade boats into the sea as year end offerings to Iemanjá at Copacabana Beach on Dec.29, 2015.
Iemanjá - Goddess of the Sea
A follower of the Afro-Brazilian religion Umbanda presents offerings Iemanjá at Copacabana Beach, Dec. 29, 2015.
Iemanjá - Goddess of the Sea
Worshippers lineup to talk with a spiritual leader as they make their year end offerings to Iemanjá at Copacabana Beach on Dec. 29.
Iemanjá - Goddess of the Sea
An Umbanda follower pays tribute for Iemanjá at nightfall along the shore of Copacabana Beach, Dec. 27, 2015.
Iemanjá - Goddess of the Sea
Worshippers create the shape of a star with candles in the sand at Copacabana Beach on Dec. 29, 2015.
Iemanjá - Goddess of the Sea
One of many handmade boats sent out to sea by worshippers as year end offerings to Iemanjá at Copacabana Beach on Dec. 29, 2015.
Iemanjá - Goddess of the Sea
A worshipper prays as she makes her year end offerings at Copacabana Beach on Dec. 29, 2015.