Although so many of the festivals in Taiwan have their origins in religion or local legends, nowadays those aspects are often secondary to the general spirit of celebration. Young or old, male or female, religious or secular, people in Taiwan are crazy for festivals, with local and international visitors pouring into small towns and big cities alike to join in the spectacle of local celebrations. The following images hint at the lively ambience of some of these events and the central place they hold in local life.
Write to Tso Lon-di at londi@mail.gio.gov.tw
A huge crowd enjoys a performance in front of Zhenlan Temple in Dajia Township, Taichung County in central Taiwan. The performances are held in honor of the "inspection tour" of the goddess Ma Zu during the third lunar month each year. Devotees take turns carrying a statue of the goddess through Taichung, Changhua, Yunlin and Chiayi counties on an eight-day pilgrimage over a route of nearly 300 kilometers. (Photo by Jheng Jheng-syung)
Wearing motorcycle helmets and raincoats for protection, people watch as fireworks cascade down at the Beehive Rocket Festival in Yanshui Township, Tainan County in southern Taiwan. Statues of gods and goddesses are carried in sedan chairs through the fireworks in hopes of receiving good fortune for the coming year. The event is held as part of the annual Lantern Festival, which immediately follows the Lunar New Year holiday. (Photo by Yeh Ming-yuan)
"Divine child" mascots dance and run amid firecrackers during the inspection tour of the goddess Ma Zu, rendering blessings to the devout. (Photo by Zeng Teng-gui)
One of the "Eight Generals" is seen in full costume. The generals are a fixture of traditional temple festivals and stride ahead of temple processions to drive out evil spirits with their power and might. Each general has his own characteristic face paint design and ritual implements. Once the face paint has been applied, the general may neither eat nor speak. (Photo by Sie Dao-jhao)
Wearing traditional costumes, members of the Tsou tribe sing and dance hand in hand during a festival for the God of War. The Tsou live mostly in the mountains in central Taiwan. The God Of War celebration is held annually in mid-February. (Photo by Song Sheng-zao)
Sky lanterns are released at Taipei County's Pingxi Township during the Lantern Festival. Originally used as a signal to notify people living in the mountains that bandits had left the area, the lanterns have evolved into a way for people to pray for good fortune by writing wishes on them. (Photo by Yeh Ming-yuan)
The Tao people from Orchid Island, a mountainous and volcanic island off Taiwan's southeast coast, celebrate a boat launching by holding a ceremony to drive away evil spirits and pray for blessings. (Photo by Jhuang Mao-cin)