An annual cultural festival celebrating the sea goddess Mazu is kicking off again in Yilan County. Last year, the sea goddess was carried by a procession that traveled on the sea, but this year, the procession will be a little different: the goddess of the sea will be traveling by train.
In Taiwan, devotees of the sea goddess Mazu are undaunted by just about anything, even the rain. Every year, they carry statues of the goddess with them on treks that crisscross Taiwan. The latest of these processions is now underway in rainy Yilan County.
More than 1,000 people gathered on the first day of the three-day cultural festival and procession setting off from Luodong Township’s Zhen-an Temple. Perhaps one reason so many showed up is the novelty of this year’s procession.
Unlike in previous years, when the goddess was carried in a fishing boat as part of a floating procession on the sea, this year, she’s taking a steam locomotive part of the way in an effort to promote local railroad heritage.
As many as 3,000 worshippers are expected to take part in the event overall, praying to the goddess that the coming year will bring peace and security.