Beigang Chaotian Temple Mazu Festival Starts May 5; Dynamic Traffic Control Implemented for Crowds

The ''Beigang Chaotian Temple Mazu Welcoming'' festival for the year 2026 (Bingwu) is set to begin, with tens of thousands of participants expected to join the Mazu palanquin procession and the ''Yige'' float parade. Dynamic traffic controls will be implemented in Beigang Town from May 5 to 9. Police urge the public to plan their trips in advance and follow on-site directions. According to Beigang Chaotian Temple, the boarding ceremony for Mazu will be held at 8:00 AM on May 5 and 6 (the 19th and 20th days of the third lunar month), with the procession departing at 9:00 AM to tour northern and southern Beigang and parts of Chiayi County. The event features traditional performance troupes and ''Yige'' floats with live actors throwing gifts to the audience. Local elder Huang Shui-shui noted that massive crowds gather for worship, the traditional banquets on the evening of the 19th, and the float parade. The Yunlin County Police Department stated that following the main procession, thousands of branch temples will return for incense through May 9, Mazu''s birthday, necessitating extended traffic control. A major highlight, the ''Beigang Li Pao'' firecrackers, will have 18 designated sites this year with enhanced safety measures. To prevent conflicts between troupes, police have coordinated with local organizations to ensure a peaceful celebration. Designated as a national important folk custom in 2011, the festival is considered the ''second New Year'' for Beigang residents.