TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Technology will support crowd control during this year’s Dajia Matsu procession.

The annual event organized by the Dajia Jenn Lann Temple is set to begin on April 17 and return on April 26. It is expected to draw large crowds as devotees follow the procession across central Taiwan, according to CNA.

To help manage the flow of participants, Taichung City Police Department plans to use drones and a mobile imaging alert system to provide real-time video coverage along the route. The system is designed to spot potential disturbances and support a rapid response.

AI-assisted image analysis will be used to detect sudden crowd surges and possible disorder, allowing officers to adjust deployments as needed. Authorities have identified past flashpoints along the route and coordinated in advance with participating temples and procession groups, including setting up communication channels and conducting pre-event visits.

The pilgrimage, representing the deity Matsu's visit to the human world, remains deeply rooted in local belief and tradition. Many devotees say that those who help carry Matsu’s palanquin or hold the ceremonial parasol will be blessed with good fortune for the year ahead, according to PTS.

As the procession passes, it is also believed to bring protection and blessings to each place it visits. In the past, however, excitement around the palanquin has occasionally led to clashes among people competing for access.

Last year, an estimated 600,000 devotees gathered in Taichung on the first day of the Dajia Mazu pilgrimage. By the end of the procession, as many as 800,000 people were estimated to have lined the streets along the route.

Authorities warned participants not to engage in violence, including forcibly seizing the palanquin, or displaying gang symbols. Any such behavior will be prosecuted under Taiwan’s Criminal Code for offenses against public order.

Matsu is one of Taiwan’s most widely revered deities, honored at temples across the country. She is often portrayed as a benevolent female figure, according to the National Museum of Marine Science and Technology.

Traditionally regarded as the protector of sailors, she is believed to safeguard voyages and shield people from maritime danger. Over time, her role has expanded beyond a sea goddess into a motherly figure associated with protection in times of hardship, credited in folk tradition with the power to ward off evil and heal illness.