Running until Aug. 24, the festival features activities welcoming the visit of the city god—a deity said to be responsible judging the spirits of the dead and deciding their destinies in the after life. Some also believe the god keeps a record of the rights and wrongs of the living during the month in which vast offerings of food and ghost money are made to keep troublesome spirits at bay.
Events such as a ceremony for the repentance of wrongdoing among worshippers, god parades, outdoor drama performances and a photography competition are held during the festival.
“The July 27 repentance ceremony allowed devotees to show remorse over their sins and pray for future blessings,” temple official Cheng Keng-ya said. “It is also a great opportunity for all to pray for blessings on the nation.”
Cheng said the ceremony was a big hit with local sinners and involved more than 1,000 participants in the northern Taiwan city. “They gathered before the temple and carried triangle yokes in the parade to seek forgiveness from the god. A few hours later, they returned to the temple and took off their yokes with a clean conscience.”
According to Cheng, the temple has preserved many ghost month rites since it was established 267 years ago. “We have expanded the scale of the festival in recent years to help the public better understand these precious traditions,” he added. (DF-JSM)
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