IEMANJA/YEMAYA FESTIVAL IN BAHIA, BRAZIL 2011

Here is some footage of the Procession for Yemaya recorded February 2nd, 2011 in Salvador, Bahia - Brasil.

Truly Magical Event. Pretty cool to witness.

If you are interested in visiting Bahia, Brazil to witness events like this live go here: www.bahiabraziltours.com

Yemaya is an orisha, originally of the Yoruba religion, who has become prominent in many Afro-American religions. Africans from what is now called Yorubaland brought Yemaya and a host of other deities/energy forces in nature with them when they were brought to the shores of the Americas as captives. She is the ocean, the essence of motherhood, and a protector of children.

Name variants

Because the Afro-American religions were transmitted as part of a long oral tradition, there are many regional variations on the goddess's name. She is represented with Our lady of Regla and Stella Maris.

• Africa: Yemoja, Ymoja, Yemowo
• Brazil: Yemanjá, Iemanjá, Janaína
• Cuba: Yemaya, Yemayah, Iemanya
• Haiti: La Sirène, LaSiren (in Vodou)
• USA: Yemalla, Yemana, Yemoja
• Uruguay: Iemanjá

In some places, Yemaja is syncretized with other deities:

• Diosa del Mar
• Mami Wata
• Mermaid Goddess of the Sea

Note: Yemeya is the mother of all mothers of Saint Lasado, she also is the spirit of water, and her favorite number is 7.

Brazil

Offerings to Iemanjá

The goddess is known as Yemanjá, Iemanjá or Janaína in Brazilian Candomblé^[3] and Umbanda religions.

The Umbanda religion worships Iemanjá as one of the seven orixás of the African Pantheon. She is the Queen of the Ocean, the patron deity of the fishermen and the survivors of shipwrecks, the feminine principle of creation and the spirit of moonlight. A syncretism happens between the catholic Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes (Our Lady of the Seafaring) and the orixá Iemanjá of the African Mithology. Sometimes, a feast can honor both.^[4][5]

Offering to Iemanjá
Small boat with Iemanjá image, flowers and gifts

In Salvador, Bahia, Iemanjá is celebrated by Candomblé on the very same day consecrated by the Catholic Church to Our Lady of Seafaring (Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes).^[6] Every February 2nd, thousands of people line up at dawn to leave their offerings at her shrine in Rio Vermelho.

Gifts for Iemanjá usually include flowers and objects of female vanity (perfume, jewelry, combs, lipsticks, mirrors). These are gathered in large baskets and taken out to the sea by local fishermen. Afterwards a massive street party ensues.



For Moor info go to this link:
www.mooraboutbahia.com/2010/12/important-festivals-for-salvador.html
AND
www.mooraboutbahia.com/2010/10/candomble.html