Tens of thousands kick off annual Matsu ceremony

Tens of thousands of followers of Matsu (媽祖), goddess of the sea in Taoist belief, attended the starting ceremony of the 322.4km journey of the "Tachia Matsu procession" at midnight Saturday, as the Matsu image at the Tachia Chenlan (鎮瀾宮) Taoist Hall in Taichung County set out on her annual blessing-imparting tour.

The Tachia Matsu procession is one of the most important religious rituals in Taiwan.

In eight days and seven nights, the Matsu image will visit 72 temples graced by the goddess in 17 townships in Taichung, Changhua, Yunlin and Chiayi counties.

The starting ceremony was attended by Taichung County Magistrate Huang Chung-sheng (黃仲生), PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) and politicians in the county.

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) will attend the Matsu birthday celebrations at the Worshipping Heaven Taoist Hall in Hsinkang on April 9, when the Tachia Matsu image visits the temple.

Matsu is the most-worshipped deity in Taiwan.

Centuries ago, immigrants from China brought the belief of the seafarers' patron to Taiwan.

The Matsu cult is deeply rooted especially in the coastal regions, though there are more than 500 Matsu temples all over the island.

In celebration of Matsu's birthday on March 23 on the lunar calendar, the Tachia Chenlan Taoist Hall, one of the biggest Matsu temples with over 100 years of history, sponsors the Matsu procession before Matsu's birthday.

In recent years, the Tachia Matsu procession has acquired a festive atmosphere with the performances of martial arts, acrobatics, and folk dances and music along with the marchers, and the Taichung County Government has made the religious activity an official cultural festival.