This year’s annual Baishatun Matsu Pilgrimage is to run from May 1 to 11, Gongtian Temple (拱天宮) in Miaoli County’s Tongsiao Township (通霄鎮) announced yesterday.
The pilgrimage from Baishatun (白沙屯) to Chaotian Temple (朝天宮) in Yunlin County’s Beigang Township (北港) is a 200-year-old tradition that sees a palanquin of the sea goddess Matsu carried on foot by participants.
It does not have a fixed yearly date or route.
Photo: Lin Huei-chou, Taipei Times
Every year on the 15th day of the 12th lunar month, Gongtian Temple consults the goddess through an oracle ceremony using divination blocks to determine the pilgrimage’s dates.
The divination ceremony took place at 1pm yesterday and included Hung Wen-hua (洪文華), head of the temple’s management committee, and other officials three days after setting up an incense table.
The ceremony decided on the month of the pilgrimage, specific dates and times for key events, such as its departure from Tongsiao and the “Divine Spirit Renewal” ceremony.
This year’s pilgrimage is to start at 11:25pm on May 1, arrive in Beigang on May 3, and have the “Divine Spirit Renewal” ceremony in the early hours of May 4 before returning to Baishatun on May 11.
The trip to Beigang is quick, but difficult, only taking one-and-a-half days, Gongtian Temple director Chen Chun-fa (陳春發) said, adding that participants should be mentally prepared for the journey.
Last year, there were nearly 180,000 participants, a record high, the temple said.
This year, on-site registration is to open from March 27 to April 28, between 8am and 6pm daily.
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