Alibaba's bizarre annual traditional of holding a mass wedding ceremony for its employees continued this year — without founder Jack Ma

Every year on May 10, the company holds a mass wedding ceremony for 102 couples, in support of the idea that the workplace is an appropriate place to find love. Jack Ma usually attends the ceremony, but this year he was not present.

On Tuesday, the company held a mass wedding ceremony for its workers in China. Ali Day, a company day out for its employees, first introduced the group wedding in 2006 Ali Day and the marriage spectacle, held on May 10 every year, are long-standing traditions that are meant to celebrate the resilience and spirit of the employees of the company.

The brides and grooms walked on a purple carpet to the ceremony grounds, similar to the red-carpet treatment that couples received in previous years.

The idea to wed was the brainchild of Ma, who had previously said that he hoped the company would last for more than 100 years. A company spokesman told Insider that at least one-half of the newlywed couples are employees of the company.

Hundreds of people apply for the event every year. 1,206 couples applied to walk down the aisle as part of this year's ceremony, according to a Weibo user.

More than 100,000 people watched Ali Day celebrations live on the internet, according to a post on the website.

Jack Ma was nowhere to be seen this year, despite the long-standing traditions for the group wedding event.

He wasn't visible in photos and videos taken of the event, and Chinese media reports didn't mention his presence.

The mass ceremony was presided over by Ma in the past. A company spokesman told Insider that the current chairman and CEO of the company has fulfilled that duty for the past three years.

Ma appeared at the Ali Day events in 2021, even though he was facing an intense crackdown on his companies.

Ma's apparent absence at this year's Ali Day will likely raise further questions about his role with the company.

Ma stepped down as CEO. He gave up his seat on the board in 2020.

Ma still wields considerable control over the conglomerate despite stepping away from public leadership roles. He is still a member of the committee that selects the majority of the board members.

Observers are still looking for Ma. When rumors of someone being under arrest caused the stock price to crash, there was a lot of interest in his location. That rumor has been discredited.