Tens of thousands of followers of Matsu (
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 (
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.
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