Based on the traditional custom of welcoming the God of Wealth (財神) on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, various events with a cash prize and rituals that offer good fortune to participants were held across the nation yesterday.
Firecrackers were let off early in the morning at the Kuantien Temple (廣天宮) in Greater Taichung’s Beitun District (北屯) — famous for worshiping the God of Wealth from five directions — as an event was held in the plaza in front of the temple.
Candies wrapped in the shape of gold ingots were thrown by a person dressed as the God of Wealth to the crowd as they waited in line to get a “golden deposit book” that contains NT$1, symbolizing gaining good fortune for the coming year.
The temple said it planned to give out 4,000 golden deposit books in two days, while other rituals, such as passing through a door in the shape of a coin and touching a large gold ingot, were also held at the temple to bring worshipers good luck.
Many visitors also gathered at Greater Kaohsiung’s Ciaotou Sugar Refinery (橋頭糖廠) in the morning, as Greater Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu (陳菊) gave out red envelopes that are said to bring good fortune to those who receive them, while several visitors also took the opportunity to have their photograph taken with the mayor.
In addition, a lottery retailer in Taipei held an event whereby people could cast divination blocks to win cash prizes of up to NT$1 million (US$33,680). Hundreds waited in line for a chance to try their luck, some arriving as early as 5am.
Anyone who got 20 continuous positive results when throwing the divination blocks would scoop the NT$1 million cash prize.
Last year, the record was nine consecutive positive results, while this year highest number recorded was only seven.
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