Draft:Beigang Chaotian Temple Welcoming Mazu

Beigang Chaotian Temple Welcoming Mazu is a pilgrimage event for Beigang Mazu in Yunlin County, Taiwan, on the 19th and 20th of the third lunar month each year. The pilgrimage areas include Nangang (Xingang, Chiayi), Beigang Street, and New Street (Beitan Bishui Temple). Beigang Chaotian Temple Welcoming Mazu's folk custom features are the "Yi-Ge" parade and the "firecrackers surrounding the sedan chair."

History

Beigang Chaotian Temple’s belief scope has expanded to Yunlin, Chiayi, and the Tainan areas since the Qing Dynasty. In the early days, pilgrimages were held twice a year for Mazu, the main deity enshrined in this temple; one on the 15th of the first lunar month and the other on the 19th and 20th of the third lunar month. Amid changing times, the latter has become more extensive in scale. Due to the long history and the traditional Yi-Ge and Zhentou performances, firecrackers surrounding Tiger Lord, firecracker chasing, and other customs have been preserved in the pilgrimage's local characteristics. "Beigang Chaotian Temple Welcoming Mazu" was registered as an essential national folk custom by the Ministry of Culture, Executive Yuan on June 18, 2010.

Pilgrimage Ceremony

Beigang Chaotian Temple Welcoming Mazu will hold pilgrimage activities on the 19th and 20th of the third lunar month. The initiation ceremony will be held at 8:00 a.m. on both days. The temple staff will lead all the worshipers to offer incense to Mazu in the main hall and then ask the master to chant scriptures and pray for blessings. Afterward, with the sound of bells and drums in the temple, the statue of Mazu will be respectfully invited to board the sedan and drive away.

On the first day, Mazu will visit the Benangang area in the morning, return to Beigang Street in the afternoon, and eventually enter the temple after midnight. The next morning, Mazu will patrol New Street (Northern Patrol) and return to the street in the afternoon. After completing the pilgrimage late at night, the sedan chair and Zhentou will return to Chaotian Temple to report to Mazu to complete the task. Finally, in the early morning of the 23^rd of the third lunar month, a birthday celebration ceremony will be held according to ancient rituals.

The featured activities include the Yi-Ge parade and firecrackers surrounding the sedan chair:

Yi-Ge parade: "Yi-Ge" is set up annually with funds from all the villages, shop associations, guilds, and associations in Beigang Township. Children play roles from various Taiwanese folk tales and parade along the streets of Beigang on traditional floats. Candies (Peace Candies) are scattered along the way, and people rush to pick them up and eat them to symbolize peace.

Firecrackers surrounding the sedan chair: Believers place many firecrackers at the places where the sedan chair will pass by. The firecrackers are set off along the road as the pilgrimage procession passes to show their respect for Mazu. People believe doing so can bring wealth to businesses and peace to families. Among all the sedan chairs, the Tiger Lord sedan is the first choice to surround with firecrackers because the pronunciation of "Tiger Lord" in Taiwanese is similar to "rich."