Worshippers carry an idol and walk in the road during the temple festival marking the birthday of traditional Taoist deity “Qingshan Wang” or “Ling”an Zunwang” in Taipei, Taiwan, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)
Taiwan, November 22: Temple festivals in Taiwan are vibrant cultural and religious celebrations held at Taoist, Buddhist, or folk temples across the island. These festivals blend traditional rituals, performances, and community activities, reflecting Taiwan’s rich cultural heritage. Here’s an overview of what a temple festival typically involves:
 Temple Festivals in Taiwan
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Worship and Rituals:
- Festivals often honor a specific deity’s birthday or commemorate a significant event in the deity’s history.
- Devotees pray, burn incense, and offer food, flowers, or other items to the deity.
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Parades and Processions:
- Statues of deities are paraded through towns or villages in ornately decorated palanquins.
- These processions are accompanied by music, dancing, and sometimes firecrackers to drive away evil spirits.
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Performances:
- Traditional performances, like Beiguan music, lion dances, dragon dances, or Taiwanese opera, are central to the festivities.
- Some festivals also include modern elements like pop music or acrobatics.
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Folk Practices:
- Spirit mediums (known as Tangki) may perform rituals or enter trances, offering blessings or demonstrating acts like walking on fire or piercing their bodies.
- Pilgrimages, where devotees travel to other temples, are common in festivals like the famous Mazu Pilgrimage.
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Food and Markets:
- Temple festivals are bustling with street food vendors offering local snacks like stinky tofu, bubble tea, and steamed buns.
- Souvenir stalls and traditional crafts add to the festive atmosphere.
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Lantern Festivals:
- Some temple festivals coincide with the Lunar New Year or Lantern Festival, featuring beautiful lantern displays.
