The Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage set to kick off April 9 in central Taiwan will be livestreamed in multiple languages, showcasing the vibrancy of the country’s religious culture among foreign audiences.
Departing from Jenn Lann Temple in Taichung City on a 340-kilometer round-trip route, the nine-day pilgrimage will stop at six temples in the city, neighboring Changhua County, Yunlin County in western Taiwan and Chiayi County in the south.
For the first time in history, the launch of the event will be broadcast in 11 languages by Taipei City-based Radio Taiwan International on 17Live’s streaming app. The show will reach viewers at home and in countries including Australia, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, the U.K. and the U.S.
According to RTI Chairperson Lu Ping, the annual event has been described by U.S.-based Discovery Channel as one of the three largest religious events in the world. Mazu, the goddess of the sea, has the power to calm, comfort and heal, a spirit Taiwan has embodied during the pandemic, she said, adding that she hopes to give a deeper insight about the country to people around the world through this unique event.
To comply with related disease prevention measures, the temple said worshipers will be prohibited from kneeling on the ground to wait for Mazu’s sedan to pass overhead, which is believed to bring good luck.
The Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage is a widely anticipated event of local culture and religious tradition dating back 200 years. It is held annually to celebrate the goddess’s birthday, which falls on May 4 this year.
Mazu is the most revered deity in Taiwan, with an estimated 2,300 temples dedicated to the goddess countrywide. (YCH-E)
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