Matsu has long been revered as the goddess of the sea. The annual procession that is a manifestation of religious piety takes place in celebration of the goddess' birthday, which falls on the 23rd day of the third lunar month.

Attracting more than 10,000 religious followers, political figures, and photographers, and accompanied by earsplitting firecrackers as well as sounds of gongs and drums, the pilgrimage as a show of devotion to Goddess Matsu lasts for eight days and seven nights, starting at 11:10 p.m. at the 276-year-old Jenn Lann Temple.

The procession will pass through four counties in Taiwan, including Taichung County, Changhua County, Yunlin County, and Chiayi County, and it will stop at 84 Goddess Matsu temples in the days to come.

There will be a huge blessing ceremony at Jenn Lann Temple on April 13 at the end of the pilgrimage.

Cheng Min-kun (?G??[), chairman of the temple, said the route of the pilgrimage dedicated to Goddess Matsu, as usual, can be tracked down through the Global Positioning System, and religious followers can log onto the Dajia Jenn Lann Temple Website for updates especially if they wish to join the procession.

The procession on Sunday drew an enormous crowd especially when it crossed the boundary of Taichung County and Changhua County in the afternoon. Most of the pilgrims participating in this special devotion are senior citizens. But nearly 1,000 university students are also joining the religious activity this year.