Thousands of Matsu followers are gathered in front of Fengtian Temple in Hsingang Township in southern Taiwan on Tuesday, March 28, for the Matsu blessing ceremony that is part of the nine-day pilgrimage that brings the statue of the goddess Matsu — protector of seafarers and fishermen — from Chenlan Temple in Dajia Township, Taichung, to Hsingang and back. The Matsu pilgrimage is one of the world's biggest religious festivals, and according to the organizers, about 1 million people participate over the nine days every year.

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Size: 6720px × 4480px
Location: No. 42, Daxing Road, Xingang Township, Chiayi County, Taiwan 616
Photo credit: © Perry Svensson / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: beliefs, celebration, crowds, dajia, daoism, devotion, faith, fengtian, festival, folk, hsingang, matsu, mazu, people, pilgrimage, piousness, procession, religion, religious, taiwan, taoism, temple, xingang