Temple Prepares to Kick Off Mazu Pilgrimage 大甲媽將起駕 廟方:盼中央給明確防疫指引

Dajia Jenn Lann Temple's Mazu pilgrimage will kick off as scheduled on the evening of April 8 despite the epidemic. The temple urged the worshippers, however, to get three vaccine doses, while sharing food and the tradition of scrambling under the palanquin will be prohibited.

People line up outside the temple with their vaccination cards to obtain the "3OK" card. Dajia Jenn Lann Temple's Mazu pilgrimage is scheduled to kick off at 11 p.m. on April 8. Its Mazu statue will then spend the next nine days and eight nights on a trip that will take it to four cities and counties. In light of the escalating epidemic situation, some believers have put their fate in the hands of the goddess, while others are taking more practical precautions.

Ms. Wu, Resident: “There's no need to worry when you go on the pilgrimage with Mazu. (How many times have you gone on the pilgrimage?) More than 30.”

Ms. He, Resident: “The epidemic situation is so grim. Despite how faithful we are, we still get worried about the risk of infection when we see so many people together.”

Ms. Hsu, Resident: “All you have to do is take the proper disease prevention measures. Wear your mask and protect yourself.”

There were 382 local cases on April 7, the highest daily total so far this year. The temple convened a press conference on April 7. It said that temple officials are complying with Central Epidemic Command Center directives and are requiring all board members, staff, and accompanying media to have received three vaccine doses. However, it can only advise and not compel worshippers to get three doses. It said the central government should provide further guidelines.

Yen Ching-piao, Chairperson, Dajia Jenn Lann Temple: “The CECC is the expert. Temple officials have set the strictest standards for themselves, but we would still like the CECC to provide clear guidelines and assistance for the pilgrimage event.”

The temple said worshippers are required to wear masks at all times. The palanquin won't be passed over the bodies of kneeling worshippers and there won't be shared meals. The temple had prepared 20,000 of the "3OK" cards, and all have been handed out. It is printing 20,000 more, and the service hours of the service desk were extended until 8 p.m. on April 7. The cards will also be available from 9 a.m. on April 8 to 1 a.m. on April 9.

在廟埕前排隊，拿小黃卡換取3OK卡，台中大甲鎮瀾宮媽祖，即將在8日晚間11點起駕，展開9天8夜、橫跨四縣市的遶境活動。面對疫情升溫，遶境期間防疫能不能做好，有人把自己交給神明，有人則是感到憂心。

民眾吳小姐說：「免煩惱、跟媽祖出門免煩惱，（記者問：第幾次跟媽祖出門了）30多次了。」

民眾何小姐表示：「疫情這麼嚴重，然後我們真的很誠心去，難免也會怕說人多喔，這樣子會有感染的風險。」

民眾徐小姐提到：「防疫做好就不會啦，口罩要戴好，自我保護。」

6日全台本土確診281例再創單日新高，起駕前一天大甲鎮瀾宮董事長顏清標召開記者會，強調廟方已配合中央疫情流行中心的防疫規定，要求全體理監事、工作人員、隨行採訪媒體都必須接種3劑疫苗。但對於廣大的信眾，顏清標坦言只能規勸，沒有強制力，呼籲中央應給予更進一步的指引。

大甲鎮瀾宮董事長顏清標表示：「防疫指揮中心才是內行，到目前為止廟方雖然以最嚴密的標準自我要求，仍希望說疫情指揮中心能在辦理遶境上，做出明確的指導與協助。」

鎮瀾宮表示，今年遶境全程規定戴口罩、不鑽轎底、不共食，原本準備了2萬張「3OK」卡已被民眾兌換索取一空，目前再加印2萬張。7日廟前兌換櫃檯服務會延長到晚間8點，8日則從上午9點持續到9日凌晨1點。