Taipei Travel

To celebrate the 1058th birthday of the Goddess Matsu, Songshan Ciyou Temple will kick-off a pilgrimage covering 13 boroughs on April 21 and 22. The participants of the event include 150 performance and vehicle teams, bringing the phenomenon of “March Craze over Matsu” to the streets of Taipei.

In support of the Department of Civil Affair’s (DCA) policy of reducing the use of firecrackers during pilgrimages, Ciyou Temple and 14 participating religious institutions drafted plans to take advantage of “eco-firecracker vehicles” to replace traditional fireworks for the upcoming event. These eco-firecracker vehicles broadcast the sound of different kinds of fireworks, including skyrocket firecracker, firecracker chains, and plain fireworks.

The volume can be adjusted as desired to avoid causing excessive noise when the procession travels by facilities such as schools and hospitals.According to DCA Commissioner Lan Shih-tsung, past temple events tend to include igniting of firecrackers to symbolize welcome and to ward off evil. However, such practice not only affects the safety of households, but also leaves behind litter and pollutes the air.

In addition, compared to the average cost of NT$150 per firecracker chain, the cost of broadcast by these vehicles is more affordable, helping to save money for event organizers.