Mazu Pilgrimage — Renaissance
Mazu Pilgrimage for Transasia inflight magazine, Renaissance.
Preceding Mazu’s birthday, the huge procession departs Jenn Lan Temple late at night to begin their nine-day tour. More than a million pilgrims accompany the sedan chair carrying the icon of Taiwan’s most popular goddess, Mazu.
The entire distance encompasses 300 kilometers and four counties. Pilgrims march relentlessly day and night catching a few hours of sleep in temple dormitories, roads and courtyards along the way. There are many reasons to walk, some march to petition the goddess, repay the goddess for favors granted and some simply to express their devotion. Personally, I walked to get a deeper feeling and understanding for the pilgrimage and take some photos. I was actually too tired to take many photos.