the celebrations begin on the 29th of december, with the official festa de yemanjá at the mercadão de madureira in madureira.

holding aloft a statue of the most catholic representation of the deity, worshipers gather at the madueira market and march all the way across town to copacabana beach, where the first offerings are given. 

this procession has a truck with a statue of yemanjá, a truck with a sound system playing chants to the goddess, about twenty buses, dozens of cars, and the presence of the municipal guard.