Taiwan's Annual Religious Grand Event: Dajia Mazu Sets Out on Pilgrimage

Taiwan’s annual religious grand event, the Dajia Jenn Lann Temple Mazu Pilgrimage Procession in Taichung, officially set out on the evening of the 17th.

From early morning that day, large crowds of believers flocked to Jenn Lann Temple for pilgrimage, creating a lively and bustling scene. According to the temple’s initial estimates, around 600,000 devotees gathered throughout the day to send off Mazu on her journey.

The pilgrimage procession from Dajia Jenn Lann Temple is the largest in scale and boasts the most spontaneous participation among Taiwan’s Mazu processions, both in terms of traditional parade troupes and total number of participants. Every year, it attracts millions of people, including both accompanying pilgrims and locals along the route who provide supplies.

The pilgrimage journey lasts nine days and eight nights. In accordance with tradition, it features eight major ceremonies: prayers for peace, enthronement, setting out, stopping over, blessings, birthday celebration, returning, and the final enthronement. The journey covers more than 340 kilometers, passing through Taichung, Changhua, Yunlin, and Chiayi counties, stopping at nearly a hundred temples along the way with overnight stops at six temples. The final destination is Fengtian Temple in Xingang, Chiayi, where the enthronement and birthday celebration take place. The pilgrimage is expected to return and complete its journey on the evening of April 26.