Worshipers at this year’s Matsu Cultural Festival will not be allowed to burn incense or paper money, Taipei’s Department of Civic Affairs said yesterday.
Matsu is one of Taiwan’s most important traditional deities, with 17 temples in Taipei alone.
Official worship in Taipei was originally centered in a temple located on the site of today’s 228 Peace Memorial Park, Xiao Keelong Fucheng Temple (小基隆福成宮) head Ye Teng-chi (葉藤吉) said.
Yeh said the temple was completed in 1888, but was torn down following Taiwan’s annexation by Japan in 1895.
While some of the temple’s idols were moved to Taipei’s Chenghuang Temple (城隍廟), the Xiao Keelong Fucheng Temple in New Taipei City’s Sanjhih District (三芝) was built for the Matsu statuette, he said. Since 2004, an annual festival has been held to welcome the Matsu idol back to the city, Ye said.
The Taipei City Government will provide one-third of the funding for this year’s festival, according to department figures.
Department of Civil Affairs Commissioner Huang Lu Ching-ju (黃呂錦茹) said this year’s festival will be relatively subdued due to new city regulations.
“This year, participants won’t be to carry incense or burn paper money,” she said, also mentioning that noise levels would be kept down to avoid disturbing area residents.
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