To welcome Flora Expo, Cultural Affairs Bureau’s “2018 Taichung Mazu International Tourism Culture Festival - Temples of Hundred Years” has a series of events themed “Just Love Mazu’s Fragrance” which give performance by local young artistic groups at 12 hundred-year temples. Public are welcomed to join in making printmaking DIY and lucky draws. City mayor Lin Chia-long praised the theme to be meaningful, as the fragrance come from the incenses of veneration and the flowers of Flora Expo. The 12 temples of hundred years, local artistic groups’ gathering, and the events are shaping up the city culture.

“Just Love Mazu’s Fragrance” as the theme, Cultural Affairs Bureau holds a series of events “2018 Taichung Mazu International Tourism Culture Festival - Temples of Hundred Years” combining the fragrances of the incenses of veneration and the flowers of Flora Expo. Promoting local performer groups by linking art, culture and religion, the grand event is advocating the universal love of Mazu, the collaboration of our society, and to grace people with quality performances. The event is kicked off on the press joined by Mayor Lin, Cultural Affairs Bureau Director Wang Zhi-cheng, delegates of 12 temples. Starting with the performance brought by Chiong Rong Dance Troupe, the Culture Festival officially begins upon Mayor’s flipping off the standing card representing divine answer from the God.

As opposed to the saying “Crazed for Mazu in March”, in Taichung every month people are crazed for Mazu, said by Mayor Lin, not only the city has the world largest Pilgrimage parade, each year the event is upgraded. In 2015 the Taichung Mazu International Tourism Culture Festival was voted Top1 by “CommonWealth Magazine” under the service industry festival activities category, indicating an effort much devoted to promoting Mazu culture. This year the theme “Just Love Mazu’s Fragrance” is really unique, considering the fragrance can be from the fragrances of the incenses of veneration and the flowers of Flora Expo. The same pronunciation is full of creativity. Joined also by 12 temples of hundred years and local artistic groups, the mutual growth and prosperity are a process that makes everyone essential to forming the culture of the city.

Mayor Lin further indicated that the equality and universal love are the spirit of Mazu. While promoting Mazu culture, it is actually conveying the concept of equality of every being. While the culture is developed and transformed with folk art, it is now young, more humanized and involved with technology. Culture is more than a heritage from the past, but also a goal to the future.

As per Cultural Affairs Bureau Director Wang, the features of this year is the diversity of the performances. With more young groups joining, the genres cover from music, dance, stunt and tricks, Taiwanese opera, folk art, magic shows, etc. Chiu-Tian Arts & Culture and Taichung Your Music; juggling performance to bring you to the extreme and create focuses; Ming Hwa Yuan Arts & Cultural Group; above performances are all available at 12 temples for citizens to enjoy.

Cultural Affairs Bureau indicated that this year the Hundred Year temples series is teaming up with the 2018 Taichung International Flora Expo on the theme “Just Love Mazu’s Fragrance”, combining the fragrance from incenses and from flowers, infusing religion, art, and locality. From 2/19 to 6/9, the event will be joined by more than 40 performer groups from Taichung City group, Taiwan teams, street performers, etc. Total 12 performances will be at each of the 12 hundred year temples.

First performance “Jiuzhuang Mazu” at 2/19 was extended and has attracted more than a thousand people to join the activity. On 3/1 Fuxing Temple at Dali City, on 3/2 four performances at Dajia Jenn Lann Temple, Dazhung Hao Tian Temple, Taichung Le Cheng Temple and Nantun Wan He Temple will decorate the city with lively Lantern Festival nights. During May and Jun, Fengyuan Ci Ji Temple, Beitun Nan Xing Temple, Taichung Wan Chun Temple, Shekou Wan Xing Temple, Wuqi Chao Yuan Temple and Dadu Wan Xing Temple will be performing as well.

In addition to Chiong Rong Dance Troupe and HOTSHOCK performing in front of Dali Fu Xing Temple, on the day of Lantern Festival, there will be Shi Yuan Lion Dance, BuHian, Yunyi Dance, Mosiyue Performance Art, Rouling Dance, One-Tone, Wugi Troupe, Ting Yun Guo, Qiu Feng Ze, MECBand and Elvis Tian performing at Dajia Jenn Lann Temple. Zhen Yun Lin Ge Puppetry will be performing at Dazhuang Hao Tian Temple, while Guo Guang Ge Ju Tuan will perform the 2nd play of “Wan He Temple”. Brother Butter Troy and Sister Cherry will join at Taichung Le Cheng Temple.

Lucky draws at each temple will be available 30 minutes before each performance at information counter subject to availability (excluding Dajia Jenn Lann Temple). Prizes are folding bicycles. 100 coupons for free printmaking DIY. File folders will also be available at limited number for filling out questionnaire. Visit Cultural Affairs Bureau http://www.culture.taichung.gov.tw/ for more information.