The press conference for 2022 Taichung Dongshih Sindingban Festival was held today (Jan 22nd) in the morning. On behalf of Mayor Lu Shiow-yen, Director-General of Council for Hakka Affairs of Taichung City Government Chiang Chun-lung announced that Dongshih Sindingban Festival would launch grandly on February 15. At the conference, students from Taichung Municipal Taichung First Senior High School were also invited to introduce the origin of Sindingban (literally means the rice cake for newborn boys) in Hakka and English; and guests who attended the press conference were invited to cut the giant 60-kg rice cake, and made Sindingban by together. Director-General Chiang then gifted the Sindingban he just made and a bib with the print of Sindingban to Ms. Tai, his expecting colleague from the Education Bureau, to deliver his best wishes.

Director-General of Council for Hakka Affairs Chiang Chun-lung expressed that people from the whole country would be invited to come to Dongshih of Taichung in the middle of lunar January (February 15) to join Sindingban Festival and experience the grandest Hakka event. The Council also invited teachers and students from the special education class of Shihcheng Elementary School to sell Sindingban on the event day for fundraising. Limited edition Sindingban will be packed in an exquisite wooden box, which is created based on the shape of traditional tiered carrying box. Oriented to the co-prosperity concept, “Taichung is a big family and all citizens come from one family”, this event aims to support the minority groups and all citizens are invited to join this charity event.

The Council indicated that this event was organized with the spirit of preserving Hakka traditions and emphasizing on the connotation of cultural innovation. On the event day, a giant red tortoise cake weighing 60 kilograms (120 Taiwan catties) and Taoban (literally means rice cake for newborn girls) be presented. The Lord Wenchang ceremony, child-seeking ceremony, Cultural Exhibition of the Intangible Assets “Douban” (literally means the “contest of Sindingban”), International Newborn Boy Culture Exhibition, street parade, poe divination ceremony, blowing up paper-mache castle, and newborn blooming night party will also be held. For more details, please feel free to visit the website of Council for Hakka Affairs of Taichung City Government (https://www.hakka.taichung.gov.tw/).

The Council expressed that, to encourage more young people have children, Mayor Lu proposed the new policy, Taichung 2022, upgrade the happiness, where the birth allowance will be doubled from NT$10,000 per baby to NT$20,000 starting from January 1 this year. This birth incentive policy in fact echos with the spirit of Sindingban Festival. On February 15, visitors nationwide are invited to come to Dongshih and have an in-depth Hakka cultural tour with your mask on. By joining the opening, child-seeking and Lord Wenchang ceremonies, you will be able to experience the fun Sindingban brings and other interesting activities.

At the press conference today, Wu Hung-hsun and Yao Ju-chien who study at Taichung Municipal Taichung First Senior High School were invited to introduce the origin of Sindingban Festival in Hakka and English, and present the diversity of Sindingban culture. In addition, the opening show presented by Taiwan Bamboo Orchestra led by Lo Cheng-hun and the folk song performance by Tseng Chin-yueh also enriched the cultural connotation of Sindingban Festival. Today’s press conference was bustling in the presence of a number of people, including Director-General of Council for Hakka Affairs Chiang Chun-lung, Director of Local Tax Bureau Shen Cheng-an, Deputy Director of Water Resources Bureau Han Nai-pin, Deputy Director of Agriculture Tsai Yung-sheng, Legislator Chiang Chi-chen, Councilor Chang Ching-fen, and Council Jan Ling-hsuan. Chief of Dongshih District Weng Pei-chen and a number of chiefs from local neighborhoods came with greetings; and a representative from Councilor Chen Pen-tien’s Office also join the event.