March Mad Mazu ": Taiwan's Largest Religious Activity Begins
2023-04-26
The Lantong Mazu pilgrimage activity in Dajia Town, Taichung City, Taiwan has recently kicked off. This largest religious event in Taiwan will last for 9 days and 8 nights, spanning 4 counties and cities, with a total distance of over 300 kilometers. It is expected that over a million believers will participate in this grand event throughout Taiwan. Mazu has a wide range of followers in Taiwan. It is said that Mazu's birthday is on March 23rd of the lunar calendar. Mazu temples in various regions hold pilgrimage activities around the country before and after his birthday, known as the "March Mad Mazu", with Zhenlan Palace having the largest scale of activities. Recently, in the morning, believers from all over Taiwan have flocked to Dajia. Incense groups from various temples have taken turns visiting and performing in front of the palace. Performances such as lion dance and the Three Princes of Dianyin are overwhelming. The streets nearby are bustling. Enthusiasts set up water tables to provide free water, Dim sum, fruits, etc. to believers; Some vendors are shouting and selling incense flags and related cultural and creative products. Due to the slowing down of the epidemic on the island, the number of participants in the Zhenlan Palace Mazu pilgrimage tour this year has significantly increased compared to previous years. Zheng Mingkun, Chairman of the Taiwan Mazu Friendship Association and Vice Chairman of Zhenlan Palace, introduced that the estimated number of believers participating in the event this year will exceed one million. Mazu's visit will definitely bring good weather, "Lin Wenrong from Pingtung County told reporters. He and his friends arrived in Dajia early in the morning and were happy that the event could resume its pre epidemic scale. I hope Mazu bless the whole family with peace and everything goes smoothly. According to the introduction, the annual Da Jia Mazu pilgrimage tour includes ceremonies such as walking, raising flags, praying for safety, getting on the sedan chair, driving, parking, praying for blessings, congratulating on birthdays, returning to drive, and seating. Each ceremony is held according to the established procedures, locations, and times. At around 5 pm that day, the gong and drum in the Zhenlan Palace were roaring, and the "getting on the sedan chair" ceremony was held. Believers in order invited the three Mazu statues of "Zhengluma", "Meizhou Mom", and "Deputy Luma" to take their seats in the sedan chair. The pilgrimage activity around the border will reach its climax at the "departure" ceremony on the late night of the 21st. At that time, the three Mazu statues will be moved out of the palace, surrounded by tens of thousands of believers, and begin their journey around the world. According to reports, the Da Jia Mazu pilgrimage tour will span over a hundred Mazu temples in four counties and cities: Taichung, Changhua, Yunlin, and Jiayi, covering a distance of about 340 kilometers. It is expected to return to Anzuo on the 30th. The believers participating in the event are all walking along, and merchants and residents along the way will set up stalls to provide tea, food, etc. for free consumption by those who travel around the border. This year's Mazu Tour and Incense has also combined various technological means to launch mobile applications and satellite positioning services, in order to participate in believers' inquiries about the real-time location of Mazu sedans, and to understand information such as supermarkets, ambulance stations, and restrooms along the way. Those who are unable to attend can also experience the lively atmosphere of the event online through 24-hour live streaming on the internet. Mazu, formerly known as Lin Mo, was a magical woman from Meizhou, Putian in the early Song Dynasty. According to legend, Mazu was revered as the "Goddess of the Sea" for aiding the poor and rescuing shipwrecks. There are over 200 million followers of Mazu in the world, and there are more than 800 Mazu temples on Taiwan, with over 10 million followers. (New News Agency)
Edit：He ChengXi Responsible editor：Tang WanQi
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