The annual Dajia Matsu Pilgrimage started last night at Jenn Lann Temple (鎮瀾宮) in Taichung’s Dajia District (大甲), for the first time livestreamed in 11 languages by Radio Taiwan International.
The nine-day pilgrimage — the largest religious event in Taiwan — passes through Changhua, Yunlin and Chiayi counties, before returning to the temple.
The procession in the past few years attracted hundreds of thousands of participants, with the exception of last year, when the event was scaled down due to concerns over COVID-19.
Photo: Liao Yao-tung, Taipei Times
After preliminary activities were completed yesterday, temple personnel carrying three effigies of the sea goddess Matsu in sedan chairs embarked on the journey at 11:05pm.
The radio station, in collaboration with the temple and the General Association of Chinese Taoism, livestreamed the activities on the 17live platform starting at 8pm.
Streams were provided in Mandarin, Cantonese, English, Russian, French, Spanish, German, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Indonesian and Vietnamese.
Photo: CNA
They were available in Taiwan, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, the US, Russia, Vietnam, Australia, Thailand, Canada, the UK, South Korea and Saudi Arabia.
Radio Taiwan International chairwoman Lu Ping (路平) on Wednesday said many believe that “Matsu has the power to calm, comfort and heal,” adding that she hopes to connect Taiwan with the world through this unique religious event.
The pilgrimage would be broadcast until it crosses the Dajia River Bridge (大甲橋), where fireworks were to be set off at midnight last night, the station said.
Worshipers are this year not allowed to kneel along the road while waiting for the sedan chairs to pass, the temple said, citing COVID-19 prevention measures.
The practice is believed to bring good luck.
The temple urged worshipers to practice social distancing, wear masks and use hand sanitizer.
Worshipers who wish to enter a temple along the procession route would have to register, the temple said.
LOW RISK: Most nations do not extradite people accused of political crimes, and the UN says extradition can only happen if the act is a crime in both countries, an official said China yesterday issued wanted notices for two Taiwanese influencers, accusing them of committing “separatist acts” by criticizing Beijing, amid broadening concerns over China’s state-directed transnational repression. The Quanzhou Public Security Bureau in a notice posted online said police are offering a reward of up to 25,000 yuan (US$3,523) for information that could contribute to the investigation or apprehension of pro-Taiwanese independence YouTuber Wen Tzu-yu (溫子渝),who is known as Pa Chiung (八炯) online, and rapper Chen Po-yuan (陳柏源). Wen and Chen are suspected of spreading content that supported secession from China, slandered Chinese policies that benefit Taiwanese and discrimination against Chinese spouses of
PROMOTION: Travelers who want a free stopover must book their flights with designated travel agents, such as Lion Travel, Holiday Tours, Cola Tour and Life Tours Air Canada yesterday said it is offering Taiwanese travelers who are headed to North America free stopovers if they transit though airports in Japan and South Korea. The promotion was launched in response to a potential rise in demand for flights to North America in June and July next year, when the US, Canada and Mexico are scheduled to jointly host the FIFA World Cup, Air Canada said. Air Canada offers services to 13 of the 16 host cities of the tournament’s soccer games, including Toronto and Vancouver; Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey in Mexico; Atlanta, Georgia; Boston; Dallas; Houston;
The US approved the possible sale to Taiwan of fighter jet spare and repair parts for US$330 million, the Pentagon said late yesterday, marking the first such potential transaction since US President Donald Trump took office in January. "The proposed sale will improve the recipient's capability to meet current and future threats by maintaining the operational readiness of the recipient's fleet of F-16, C-130," and other aircraft, the Pentagon said in a statement. Trump previously said that Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) has told him he would not invade Taiwan while the Republican leader is in office. The announcement of the possible arms
The Tainan District Court has found a teenager guilty of posting a sexually explicit video of his girlfriend on social media without consent. The court ruled his parents were legally responsible for the boy’s actions, and ordered NT$500,000 (US$16,051) to be paid in compensation to the victim. The incident took place in December last year, when the boy and his girlfriend, both under 18 and legally minors at the time of the incident, were in a relationship. The boy asked her to send him explicit videos, according to a court filing. A month later, he posted the video on social media, with its visibility
RSS