As per tradition, Dajia Zhenlan Temple held the Dajia Mazu divination block throwing ceremony to decide the date of the religious procession at 18:00 today (19th), coinciding with the Lantern Festival. The ceremony was conducted by chairman Ching-piao Yen in the company of Vice Chairman Ming-kun Cheng and the Board of Directors and Supervisors. The divine reply was received in the first attempt, and Mazu will be embarking on the religious procession at 22:00 sharp on April 7, 2019 (March 3, Year of Ji Hai on the Chinese calendar). Deputy Mayor Tzu-ching Chen also attended the celebration and welcomed all followers from domestic and abroad to join the internationally acclaimed Mazu Cultural Festival.

Dajia Zhenlan Temple will also be hosting the Celebrating Lantern Festival with Mazu activity; at 17:40 this afternoon, the Yuan Deity Lantern Lighting Ceremony was conducted before the divination block throwing ceremony was carried out at 18:00 to determine the starting date of Mazu’s religious procession. The activities drew a large crowd of followers to pray for blessings, peace, and health. Deputy Mayor Chen, Legislator Kuan-heng Yen, Deputy-Speaker Li-min Yan, and Civil Affairs Bureau Deputy Director General Cheng-yuen Lu all attended the function.

Dajia Zhenlan Temple’s religious procession will take place over 9 days, starting at 22:00 on April 7, 2019 (March 3 on the Chinese calendar). Mazu will travel to Changhua Nanyao Temple, Xiluo Fusing Temple, CYHCG Fengtian Gong on the 8th, 9th and 10th respectively. On the 11th, the Mazu birthday celebration will be held, while Mazu will travel to Xiluo Fusing Temple, Beidou Dianan Temple, CYHCG Fengtian Gong, and Qingshui Chaoxing Temple on the 12th, 13th, 14th, and 15th before returning to Dajia Zhenlan Temple on the 16th.