Let's go to Mazu Procession!

In 2019, TFRD took families with rare diseases to experience the Dajia Mazu Procession for the first time, and the feedback from the patients was overwhelmingly touching. Now, after the pandemic, we once again set off with great zeal! Mazu, the Goddess of the Sea, is a widely held belief in Taiwan, and the Dajia Mazu Procession is one of the world's top three religious events. Each year, the Dajia Mazu Procession travels to Singang in Chiayi to go on a pilgrimage and bless the devotees along the way. Mazu's blessings have become a source of comfort and strength for the people in Taiwan, as well as a source of support for many sick people.

On April 26, TFRD led 79 patients and their families to participate in a one-day pilgrimage. We gathered at the Yunlin High Speed Rail station, instructed the route, and then set off on the lush and shaded road. When we were about to arrive at the first stop, the Chaoxing Temple in Xiluo, the drums and firecrackers led by the head of the procession rang through the clouds, making it very festive! Lucky for us, we were able to watch the procession at a close distance, and when the palanquin carrying Mazu came to a halt, everyone joined in worship and prayed for peace. The temple also prepared peace meals, providing easy access for families with RD to eat.

Mazu's mercy blessed the RD patients. Before the palanquin was scheduled to leave, the RD families were specially allowed to leng-giu-de (a custom to be blessed by crawling beneath the palanquin). The palanquin team lifted the palanquin as high as they could to allow the line of wheelchair-bound patients to make their leng-giu-de. By the time we arrived at Xintian Temple, we were all beat, but we cheered each other on and continued towards the final destination, Fuxing Temple in Xiluo. Finally, we managed to complete this heartwarming and arduous journey together.

RD patients need more spiritual comfort and faith support than the general public because of their physical weaknesses and the long tug of war between life and time, which weighs heavily on the minds of family members. TFRD is grateful to the Chaoxing Temple in Xiluo and the people along the way for their help in making this challenging journey a smooth one for families with rare diseases.

Translator: David Lee (Becker Muscular Dystrophy)