The palanquin carrying two statues of the sea goddess Matsu yesterday returned to their home base at Gongtian Temple (拱天宮) in Miaoli County’s Baishatun (白沙屯), concluding an eight-day procession to Chaotian Temple (朝天宮) in Yunlin County’s Beigang Township (北港).
Surrounded by tens of thousands of devotees, the statues were escorted into the main hall and formally seated in the temple.
The area around Gongtian Temple was packed with crowds and procession followers filled the surrounding alleys, while households and devotees along the route set up incense tables to welcome Matsu back to Baishatun.
Photo: CNA
Volunteer groups and businesses also set up refreshment stations, offering a variety of drinks and snacks for those who made the long journey.
The Baishatun Matsu pilgrimage set off early on Monday last week from Tongsiao Township (通霄), led by a palanquin carrying three Matsu statues, one of which was from the neighboring Shanbian Matsu Temple (山邊媽祖宮).
The procession was joined by a record 460,000-plus devotees.
On Thursday, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims followed the Baishatun Matsu procession as it arrived at Chaotian Temple, where the Matsu palanquin completed a "fire-gathering" ritual.
It set off on its return journey in the early hours on Friday.
The Baishatun Matsu pilgrimage, one of Taiwan's most prominent religious events, is known for having no fixed route, with directions and stops believed to be guided by the deity's will through the movements of the palanquin.
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