Taiwan News
Date: 2016-08-23
By: Sophia Yang, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

If you are a first-timer in Taiwan, starting from August 3, when you are walking on the street, you might encounter long or small tables set up in front of residential complexes, office buildings, or inside a tent on a street with a variety of offerings on the tables, from cookies, cakes, roasted chicken, fish, pork, to beverages. And you would see a bunch of people, dressed either casual or formal, standing next to the offerings, holding incense sticks, and looking into the sky, or the street, with prayers for blessings. Expect this scene if you travel to Taiwan between late July and early September each year.

It is known as the Pudu Rite and is traditionally held between noon and evening; the date of performing the rite can be any day of the Ghost Month. At some Taoist temples, you might feel not comfortable with seeing a whole pig carcass on their offering tables, though such a scene has been seen less and less over the past few years in response to a growing awareness of animal welfare issues.     [FULL  STORY]