Bombing Handan 炸寒單

Posted by on Mar 15, 2013 in blog, Taiwan, Temple Culture | 13 Comments

Bombing Handan (炸寒單) is an important folk event held annually in Taidung during Taiwan’s Yuanxiao festival (元宵節.)

Lord Handan on sedan chair

Bombing Handan (炸寒單) is held in Taidung during Yuanxiao festival (元宵節) Lord Handan (寒單爺) is paraded through the streets while bricks of fireworks are thrown at his near naked body.

Lord Handan (寒單爺) is paraded through the streets wearing nothing but shorts and a towel around his head while local shops throw bricks of fireworks at his near naked body.

Lord Handan on sedan chair

Bombing Handan (炸寒單) is held in Taidung during Yuanxiao festival (元宵節) Lord Handan (寒單爺) is paraded through the streets while bricks of fireworks are thrown at his near naked body.

The festival was once suppressed by the government as superstitious and dangerous but in recent years has become a government endorsed cultural festival.

Firecrackers

Bricks of fireworks to be thrown at Lord Handan (寒單爺)

Bombing Lord Handan is often associated with Taidung mafia and being a Handan is often an initiation rite; a way for gang members to prove their courage .

Lord Handan on sedan chair

Bombing Handan (炸寒單) is held in Taidung during Yuanxiao festival (元宵節) Lord Handan (寒單爺) is paraded through the streets while bricks of fireworks are thrown at his near naked body.

It is believed the greater the amount of firecrackers thrown will bring greater fortune in the coming year.

Lord Handan on sedan chair

Bombing Handan (炸寒單) is held in Taidung during Yuanxiao festival (元宵節) Lord Handan (寒單爺) is paraded through the streets while bricks of fireworks are thrown at his near naked body.

Among other things, Lord Handan is considered a god of wealth, one of Wulu Caishen (五路財神).

Lord Handan on sedan chair

Bombing Handan (炸寒單) is held in Taidung during Yuanxiao festival (元宵節) Lord Handan (寒單爺) is paraded through the streets while bricks of fireworks are thrown at his near naked body.