TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The annual Baishatun Mazu Pilgrimage performed an impressive "sprint” ritual before entering the Beigang Chaotian Temple in Yunlin on Friday (Feb. 17).
The pilgrimage, which kicked off on Feb. 12, is a 9-day event where worshippers follow the procession on foot while the deity sits on a sedan chair.
At the Chaotian temple, the procession ran back and forth six times before passing through the temple doors while the crowd cheered them on. Each sprint was about 100 meters in the distance, and after the 6th run back, the procession finally entered the temple.
According to the organizers, this year's pilgrimage saw around 113,000 people joining the trek across central Taiwan. The procession will walk up to 400 kilometers during the 9-day journey and return to Miaoli on Feb. 20 (Mon.).