TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taichung’s Dongshih District will launch its annual Sin Din Ban Festival on Friday, highlighting Hakka heritage and agrarian traditions during the Lantern Festival season.
Sin Din Ban refers to a glutinous rice cake traditionally prepared by Hakka families as an offering to Tudi Gong, a local Taoist earth deity believed to protect the community. The term “sin din,” meaning “new people,” reflects the agricultural society’s emphasis on labor and population growth, per Hakka News.
Families who welcomed newborns would prepare extra rice cakes to offer to the deity and share with neighbors. Over time, the custom evolved into organized competitions, with groups awarding prizes to members who present the largest rice cake during the festival’s ban contest.
Historically, local tradition required brides to return to their natal homes three days, one month, and four months after marriage. Their families would prepare turtle-shaped red rice cake, symbolizing the birth of sons, for them to bring back to their new households. While traditional Hakka society favored sons, peach-shaped rice cakes were also made to celebrate the birth of daughters.
Taichung City Government Hakka Affairs Council Chair Chiang Chun-lung (江俊龍) said eating ban symbolizes good fortune and, according to folklore, may even bring the desired gender of a child. Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) said the festival, typically held during the Lantern Festival period, was adjusted this year to coincide with the upcoming Peace Memorial Day holiday to encourage greater public participation.
The Sin Din Ban Festival will open with a parade Friday, followed by an 11 a.m. ceremony at Dongshi Hakka Cultural Park, per UDN. Childbirth blessing rites will take place Saturday at Shuang Fu Shrine, while concurrent ceremonies praying for academic achievement will be held at Dongshih’s Wenchang Temple.
Ban competitions will be staged at multiple venues, beginning at Shuang Fu Shrine on Saturday. Organizers will also display a 72-kilogram rice cake at the cultural park Friday and Saturday, with portions distributed to visitors in the evenings.
In addition to traditional rituals, the event will feature performances by Hakka artists and the Formosa Circus Art troupe, with Formosa Circus Art scheduled for Friday night and Hakka performers taking the stage Saturday evening.
Dongshih police said traffic controls will be implemented on Friday and Saturday, with certain streets closed from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Authorities advised visitors to use shuttle services operating from the riverside park and Wenchang Temple to reach festival venues in the town center, per CNA.
