Taiwan is set to hold a scaled-down Mazu procession this year. The religious pilgrimage usually attracts hundreds of thousands of participants every year in March, but it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now with the outbreak under control, the government has given the go-ahead to the procession, but on a much smaller scale. Social distancing measures will also be in place and temples are encouraging people to participate online.
The Mazu pilgrimage stretches 340 kilometers through Taichung, Changhua, Yunlin and Chiayi. This year it will begin on June 11 at 11pm. The statue of Mazu, worshipped as the goddess of the sea, will return to her temple on June 20. The banquet which usually kicks off the pilgrimage has been cancelled.
Organizers say they will adhere to the 1,000-person limit the government has set for major events. The Dajia Jenn Lann Temple says only 800 procession workers will participate and everyone will be required to wear a mask. But worshippers may come as they please to celebrate at the Hsin Kang Feng Tian temple.
Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) Spokesperson Chuang Jen-hsiang said guidelines for mass events include keeping records of participants’ contact information, and ensuring proper ventilation and social distancing. Surgical masks and proper hand hygiene are also required.