After completing an adventurous trip around Taiwan, the statue of Mazu is on her way to participate in the “Passport to Taiwan Festival” in the U.S., in style.
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The statue of Mazu was accompanied by temple staff and escorted into the aircraft cabin. Flight attendants promptly assisted in securing the deity onto a seat with a seatbelt, ensuring her safety.
Mazu was seated in a window seat in premium economy class, while the guardian generals of sight and hearing, Qianliyan and Shunfenger, sat in standard economy.
Fresh from her domestic pilgrimage, Beigang Mazu was invited to the United States to participate in the "Passport to Taiwan Festival." The process for Mazu and her two generals to travel abroad followed standard procedures, including purchasing tickets, check-in, and passing through customs.
Facing airport immigration, the temple representatives expressed gratitude while handling formalities. This half-month trip marks Mazu's first pilgrimage to San Francisco, Houston, and New York.
Chairman Tsai Yung-te (蔡咏鍀) of Beigang Chaotian Temple expressed enthusiasm, as this is the first time the palanquin had been sent to Houston, initiating blessings in two or three locations.
The temple emphasized that the sea goddess's presence spans five continents and this pilgrimage across three cities in the United States aims to showcase Taiwan's warm Mazu culture to the world. You might say that these economy-class seats are divine.