Crowds Descend on Chaiyi Town for 200-Year-Old Religious Festival
Wang Ye Festival in Budai, Chiayi
REPORTER:
With a mix of pomp, excitement and religious fervor, worshippers of the Wang Ye, or “Royal Lords,” wade through water, bearing the gods on shoulder-mounted palanquins. There are firecrackers, drums and gongs as around a thousand spectators look on.
REPORTER:
This annual festival in Budai, Chiayi County marks the gods’ birthday—the 27th day of the third lunar month. This year, it began with a parade through the water when worshippers sensed that an invisible ship carrying the god had arrived. For three days, there will be similar parades and religious events.
REPORTER:
Inviting [the god] to be a guest at our temple is a tradition that goes back around 200 years.
REPORTER:
But for devotees, it’s all about the blessings they say attending this festival can bring.
BITE:
I come every year. Every year.
I come every year to welcome the Royal Lord.
That way, I’m healthy and make lots of money.
BITE:
We’ve come from Kaohsiung.
We’ve come for six years now.
The Royal Lord protects us believers.
We welcome him and ask for wellbeing.
REPORTER:
Believers kneel in the road as the god’s carriage passes above their heads—hoping their faith will make this year, too, healthy and successful.
Alex Chen, John Van Trieste and Bryn Thomas for TaiwanPlus.
