Dajia Mazu's Departure in Taiwan Meets Tomb-Sweeping Day Holiday

The highly anticipated Dajia Mazu pilgrimage event in Taichung, Taiwan, commenced on the evening of the 4th.

The departure ceremony was held at the Dajia Jenn Lann Temple, which boasts a history of over 290 years. Some devotees eagerly "crawl under the palanquin" and "touch the palanquin" to pray for disaster relief and bring good fortune.

Hours before the departure, large crowds of devotees queued to enter the temple and offer incense, while the square in front of Jenn Lann Temple was bustling with people. As the 4th coincided with the Tomb-Sweeping Day holiday in Taiwan, many people came with their families to worship, making the streets of the Dajia District extremely crowded. The Taichung City Government preemptively controlled the surrounding traffic, and the public all walked to the venue.

This year's pilgrimage journey lasts for 9 days and 8 nights, passing through Taichung, Changhua, Yunlin, and Chiayi, and is scheduled to return to Dajia on the 13th.

Jenn Lann Temple's Deputy Chairman Zheng Mingkun estimates that on the night of the departure, the number of people accompanying Mazu across the Dajia River Bridge will reach 600,000 participants, with more than one million expected to participate throughout the journey.

The President of the Legislative Yuan of Taiwan, Han Kuo-yu, appearing at Jenn Lann Temple that day, said that Mazu's departure today carries the significance of the Tomb-Sweeping Day's remembrance of ancestors, as well as hope for future generations.

He thanked Mazu for taking care of Taiwan for nearly 300 years and prayed that Mazu would continue to bless the people of Taiwan amidst the current complex international situation, tense cross-strait relations, and sluggish economic environment.