Radio Taiwan International
Date: 25 February, 2020
By: Jake Chen

Mazu pilgrimage to go on as planned: head of temple. (CNA Photo)[/caption] The ongoing COVID-19 outbreak has cast a doubt on many upcoming public events in Taiwan. One of them is the annual Mazu procession, the largest religious gathering in Taiwan.

Despite health concerns, the head of Dajia Jenn Lann Temple has announced that this year’s procession will begin as scheduled, on March 19.

Crowds struggle to get close to a statue of Mazu, the Goddess of the Sea, one of the most popular deities in all of Taiwan. This is the annual Dajia Mazu pilgrimage, the largest religious gathering in Taiwan. Each year, worshippers carry her statue, walking hundreds of kilometers for up to 10 days. More than a million believers join in the pilgrimage, hoping to receive Mazu’s blessings for a safe year ahead.    [FULL  STORY]