TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Baishatun Mazu pilgrimage began around midnight Sunday with a record crowd of 460,000 participants as devotees set out on an eight-day journey across central Taiwan.
Organizers said turnout was nearly 120,000 higher than last year, underscoring the growing popularity of one of Taiwan’s most significant religious events, per CNA.
Palanquins carrying three Mazu statues departed from Miaoli County’s Gongtian Temple, heading south toward Chaotian Temple in Beigang, Yunlin County, before returning. Unlike other religious processions, the Baishatun pilgrimage has no fixed route and is guided by a Mazu statue placed in a pink palanquin, whose movements determine the path.
As the statues were placed into the palanquin, crowds surged forward and backward three times in a traditional send-off before the procession began its journey.
Pilgrims from across Taiwan joined the trek, many wearing orange hats. Along the route, residents, businesses, and organizations set up incense altars and offered food and supplies to participants, continuing a long-standing tradition of community support.
Firecrackers and confetti marked the procession’s passage, while devotees chanted, “Mazu, I love you,” creating a festive atmosphere.
The pilgrimage, which dates back more than 200 years, is scheduled to reach Beigang on Thursday, with the return to Gongtian Temple set for 4:10 a.m. on April 20, according to temple officials.
Local governments are coordinating with temple organizers to manage traffic disruptions, while shuttle bus services have been arranged from Miaoli High Speed Rail Station and Chiayi Railway Station to accommodate participants.
Temple officials said this year’s pilgrimage will allocate roughly equal time for the outbound and return journeys. Despite careful planning, keeping pace with the palanquin remains a challenge for many pilgrims.
The event’s route and schedule are determined annually through divination blocks, making each pilgrimage unique and unpredictable.
The Baishatun Mazu pilgrimage was registered as an intangible cultural asset of Miaoli County in 2008. It was later designated a National Important Folk Custom by the Ministry of Culture in 2010.
With local elections in November approaching, politicians from across party lines also took part in the event. President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) led DPP officials and mayoral candidates in ceremonial activities, including inviting Mazu from the shrine alongside Gongtian Temple Chair Hung Wen-hua (洪文華).
KMT figures, including Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) and Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安), later participated in the palanquin-mounting ceremony, along with other party officials.
Miaoli County Magistrate Chung Tung-chin (鍾東錦) described the pilgrimage as the “happiest time of year,” emphasizing its role in uniting communities across Taiwan. “Today there is no politics, only religion,” he said, adding that the journey strengthens social bonds through shared faith in Mazu.
