
The famous pink race car is back in action. The Baishatun Mazu Pilgrimage officially kicked off midnight Monday, and will take nine days as the sea goddess travels south. This year’s event is especially significant, for the procession is carrying two other Mazus, making for a formidable trio on the same palanquin. Triple the blessings. FTV anchor Ariel Wang did not miss out on the action. Let’s take a look.
Worshippers at Gongtian Temple are cheering as the Censer Master Mazu and the Baishatun Mazu are successfully taken into the palanquin.
They’re joined by the Houlong Shanbian Mazu in a palanquin conjoining ceremony. Then, the trio sets off together, for the first time in history.
The pilgrimage officially kicked off on midnight Monday. Worshippers all tried to get as close as possible as they sent off the holy trinity. Tongxiao Township was restless that night.
The pink race car charged ahead, arriving in Dajia District, Taichung in the morning. The three Mazus couldn’t wait to meet with a fourth, their Jenn Lann Temple counterpart.
- Were you worried that people wouldn’t have anything to eat here at noon?
- Yes. Here, this is for you.
- Thank you so much.
- It’s on Mazu.
Throughout the Baishatun Mazu Pilgrimage, worshippers stood ready with offerings of refreshments for pilgrims. The woman offering sticky rice had come all the way to Taichung from Taoyuan.
Worshipper
Offered sticky rice
We come every year. There’s only 144kg. We didn’t prepare a lot this year.
Worshippers are always readily welcoming the Baishatun Mazu and her friends wherever she goes. Among those waiting, some are returnees to say thanks after their wishes came true. Many more are seeking blessings from her.
Worshipper
Moved by procession
I’m so moved. I hope Mazu can bless me and help me get better. I’ve had three unsuccessful surgeries in a row. I hope Mazu can offer me the way and point me to a good doctor, and get me back on my feet.
This rice cake shop in Qingshui District has a snack corner ready for Mazu and her pilgrims every year. The owner says that Mazu always returns, year after year.
Owner
Rice cake shop
We seek advice from Mazu for all matters, big and small. She always points us in the right direction. The holy mother really takes great care of us, so we’re always at the ready for her.
Tens of thousands of worshippers kept on charging ahead with the pink race car. Our team was also lucky to get a spot among a crowd waiting for the palanquin to pass over and receive blessings.
Ariel Wang
FTV anchor
We’ve kept up with the pink race car and we’ll continue to charge ahead. We’ve sprinted ahead in her footsteps. I even failed to hold back tears twice. I’m not exaggerating. It’s really so moving.
Together with her videographer, the FTV reporter had kept up with the Baishatun Mazu on foot for almost 14 hours. The two will follow her all the way southward, to her destination.
For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53
#mazu #baishatun #pilgrimage #religion #miaoli #tourism #culture
白沙屯媽祖進香之旅,13日週一凌晨起駕,今年除了白沙屯媽祖,山邊媽祖之外,轎子內還多了爐主媽,首次三媽同轎。粉紅超跑週一一早抵達台中大甲,停駕鎮瀾宮,和大甲媽姊妹相會,上演罕見的"四媽會",讓進香活動在起駕首日就迎來高潮,而媽祖鑾轎,也在下午四點十八分,駐駕台中清水,週二凌晨2點再出發。
拱天宮內,信眾聲聲呼喚下,爐主媽和白沙屯媽祖先後登轎。
後龍山邊媽前來相會,完成合轎儀式之後,三媽首度同轎。
三媽共乘鑾轎,13日凌晨正式起駕,衝出廟門,信眾夾道,恭送媽祖鑾轎,通霄鎮彷彿不夜城。
粉紅超跑一路奔馳,13日早上抵達台中大甲區,白沙屯媽祖鑾轎驅使轎夫小跑步直奔鎮瀾宮,形成罕見的四媽相會。
-中午大家在這邊怕大家沒東西吃
-對,來,妳也來吃一下
-謝謝謝謝
-媽祖請的
白沙屯媽祖出發刈香,沿途就像這樣,各種結緣品,給經過的香燈腳好好補給,熱心民眾特別從桃園中壢帶結緣油飯分送。
[[供結緣油飯民眾]]
“我們每年都來發,只有240斤,我們今年沒有(準備)很多。”
白沙屯媽祖出發之後,除了香燈腳跟隨,沿途信眾夾道歡迎,有些人來還願,更多的,是帶著盼望、祈求媽祖庇佑。
[[白沙屯媽祖香燈腳]]
“感觸很深欸,希望媽祖可以保佑我身體趕快好起來,我說我連續開刀3次都失敗,請求媽祖給我個指示,讓我去找好(對)的醫師,讓我重新站起來。”
清水這間米糕店,每年都會來擺點心站,老闆娘說,媽祖娘娘每年都會繞回來看看。
[[媽祖停駕米糕店業者]]
“我們平常大大小小的事情,都會去請教媽祖,祂都會指引我們對的路,一直以來聖母都對我們非常非常照顧,我們有求必應。”
上萬信眾一路跟隨,一路衝,民視採訪團隊,相當幸運,跟上這一趴,一起鑽轎底。
[[主播 王嘉琳]]
“我們持續在追粉紅超跑,我們繼續(跟著)往前衝,我們剛剛沿路的衝。看到媽祖我剛剛兩度落淚,我真的沒有誇張,是真的太感動了。”
主播嘉琳跟攝影國凱,出發第一天,跟著白沙屯媽祖走了將近14小時,疾行軍 一路向南,持續趕路,要讓香火 蔓延到 更多地方。
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民視新聞台(53頻道)週二至週六凌晨1:00
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