Signups for next month’s Baishatun Matsu Pilgrimage reached a record 200,000 people this morning, Gongtian Temple director Chen Chun-fa (陳春發) said.
The pilgrimage is an annual event that sees participants carry a palanquin with a Matsu statue from Gongtian Temple (拱天宮) in Miaoli County’s Tongsiao Township (通霄) to Chaotian Temple (朝天宮) in Yunlin County’s Beigang Township (北港).
This year’s procession is to start at at 11:25pm on May 1 and return on May 11.
Photo: Taipei Times
Since registrations started at 8am on Thursday last week, record numbers of participants have signed up, Chen said.
Yesterday signups broke last year’s record of 179,971, exceeding 200,000 today, he added.
Over the past five years, numbers have increased annually, with 54,599 participants in 2020, 78,672 in 2021, 90,928 in 2022 and 113,621 in 2023, the temple said.
While some have suggested that online signups could be used given the number of participants, Chen said that traditional on-site registration allows believers to let Matsu know they are to accompany her on her journey.
However, the temple is considering online signups as the number of applicants continues to increase, Chen said.
Given the effort required to give each participant their required clothing, Chen asked the public for patience.
Meanwhile, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said it is to send a team of forecasters along with the procession to provide timely weather updates, given how quickly the weather can change in spring.
This is the 13th consecutive year of working with the temple, the agency said.
Forecasters are to work with organizers and notify the procession of any severe weather so that they can make appropriate adjustments, the agency said.
Pilgrims can also use the CWA app for up-to-date information, it added.
Additional reporting by Lin Chih-yi
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