Signups for this year’s annual Baishatun Matsu pilgrimage, widely recognized as Taiwan's longest religious procession, surpassed 450,000 as of yesterday, breaking last year’s record of more than 329,000, Gongtian Temple chair Hung Wen-hua (洪文華) said.
That number is expected to rise further before registration ends tomorrow at 6pm, with the pilgrimage scheduled to start on Sunday at 11:55pm, Hung told a news conference for the event held yesterday by the Tongsiao Township Office.
During the pilgrimage, 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).
Photo: Taipei Times
This year’s pilgrimage is expected to reach Beigang on Thursday next week, ahead of the holy fire ceremony at Chaotian Temple on the following day.
Matsu is scheduled to return to Gongtian Temple on April 20, with an incense ceremony held the following day.
Miaoli was hit with heavy rains recently, but thanks to Matsu’s protection, no one was hurt, Miaoli County Commissioner Chung Tung-chin (鍾東錦) said.
Hung also reminded participants to take public transportation to Gongtian Temple to prevent heavy traffic.
Participants should not waste food and snacks generously provided by people along the route and practice environmental responsibility, Hung added.
The Tongsiao Township Office said it plans to hold an arts gala at the Gongtian Temple parking lot the night the pilgrimage begins, inviting musicians and artists to perform.
It also plans to hold an event on April 19 outside the Tongyang (通苑) 7-Eleven store welcoming the procession back.
Due to the pilgrimage, parking at Baishatun Station would be restricted from Saturday to April 20 and the square in front of the station would be cleared, station officials said.
Additional reporting by CNA
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