A run organized by five Mazu temples across Taiwan March 30, the BobiRun in honor of the goddess of the sea, drew more than 30,000 participants including the world champion Jingmei Girls’ Senior High School tug of war team.
The organizers were Ciyou Temple in Taipei City’s Songshan District; Chao-ming Temple in Jungli City, Taoyuan County, northern Taiwan; and Jenn Lann Temple in Dajia Township, Taichung City, central Taiwan; as well as southern Taiwan’s Luermen Mazu Temple in Tainan City and Shoutian Temple in Gangshan Township, Kaohsiung County. The run started simultaenously at all temples.
“March is a very important month for activities in honor of Mazu,” Ciyou Temple Chairman Chen Yu-feng said. “Mazu temples across the island hold pilgrimages one after the other. This tradition has been going on for more than a century.”
“Bobi” in Holo language means protection by deities. The temples organized the event to unite worshippers in spirit, pray for Mazu’s blessings of safety, promote belief among the younger generation and renew religious tradition, Chen said. The BobiRun is a low carbon, fun activity that brings Mazu worship closer to people’s everyday lives, he added.
Nonprofit organizations such as Taiwan Motor Neuron Disease Association threw their support behind the run, and thousands of supporters of all ages turned out early in the morning. Some of them pushed strollers as they ran. The Jingmei tug of war team appeared in a show of gratitude because Ciyou Temple had previously subsidized their travel expenses for international contests.
Numerous luminaries ran along with the crowd, including former ROC Vice President Annette Lu and several legislators from across the political spectrum.
Adding to the festive atmosphere at Ciyou Temple was a group of 20 young females leading the preliminary warm-up exercises, a Ferrari carrying a Mazu figurine on its bonnet, as well as celebrities performing and conducting a prize draw. (SDH)