Late in the evening of the registration deadline date, the temple held a flag ceremony, erecting the banner on the temple's dragon pillar to symbolize the commencement of this year's Mazu pilgrimage.
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This year’s Baishatun Mazu Pilgrimage has officially kicked off. After everyone burned incense, it was time to hang the leading flag on the dragon pillar to proclaim that the ceremony was about to start.
Deputy Director of the Baishatun Gongtian Temple Lin Hsing-fu (林幸福) shares, that after the flag placement, for the next three days, they will eat a vegetarian breakfast and, in the evening, prepare offerings to bring to the temple.
This year's Baishatun Mazu Pilgrimage is roughly 400 km long, spanning 9 days and 8 nights, and is set to commence from Miaoli on Monday. As of Thursday, when registration closed, the temple authorities tallied a total of 179,971 participants. This number not only falls just 29 people short of surpassing 180,000 but also holds a unique charm—it reads the same whether spoken forwards or backwards.
Baishatun Gong Tian Temple Director Chen Chun-fa (陳春發) says there is an increase of nearly 70,000 participants compared to last year and that this year's devotees are particularly enthusiastic.
Concerned about first-time participants, the temple authorities advised that those who have had a bereavement in the family within the past year are best to refrain from joining. For those who do participate, they are reminded to adhere to tradition and not carry incense.
It was also emphasized that this year's return journey is supposed to last just 2 days, rushing from Beigang back to Miaoli. Devotees are urged to maintain their spirits, continually monitor their physical condition, and avoid overexertion.