3 Vaccine Doses Proof Needed for Attending Baishatun Mazu Pilgrimage 白沙屯媽祖進香今起報名 信眾須打滿3劑

Baishatun Mazu Pilgrimage is expecting attendance of around 90,000. Proof of three vaccine doses will be required to register and attend.

Mazu devotees wait in line to register at Baishatun Gong Tian Temple. One devotee came all the way from Chiayi to ask for blessings for her 90-something grandma. She waited in line for six days to get the first stick of incense. 

Ms. Tsai, Mazu Devotee: “I didn't bring my grandma, but I asked Mazu if I could wear the armband and walk in the procession on my grandma's behalf. ( Reporter: “The entire way?”) The entire way.”

Turnout for the incense offering event is expected to be around 90,000. The temple says registration won't close until May 16. Proof of three vaccine doses is required to register and attend. Devotees are also allowed to register for other people.

Chen Chun-fa, Director, Gong Tian Temple Management Committee: “Due to the three-dose issue, attendance probably won't hit what we'd hoped. Around 90,000 people have registered. ( Reporter: “That many?”) Well, we're still putting safety first. If you haven't had three doses -- we will be suspending the incense proffering this year.”

The temple says devotees won't be allowed to stay overnight at the temple this year due to the epidemic and it hopes everyone can take care of their own health. The pilgrimage will kick off on May 20 and arrive in Beigang on the 22nd. As the route is decided by the temple's Mazu sculpture, managing the event will be a huge challenge.

整排板凳小椅子排成一列，將苗栗白沙屯拱天宮香客大樓圍成一圈，這些都是要準備報名白沙屯媽祖進香的信眾排的。而這位來自嘉義的信眾，為了替高齡90歲的阿嬤祈福，6天前就來排隊，順利搶得頭香，成為第一個報名的香燈腳。

信眾蔡小姐說：「我沒有帶著阿嬤徒步，但我都跟媽祖婆說，我可不可以代替她背著臂章，幫她走完全程。」

這回白沙屯媽祖進香，緊接著在大甲媽祖後登場，預計吸引9萬人參加。苗栗拱天宮表示，報名香燈腳的時間到5月16日。但受到疫情升溫影響，信眾除了填寫報名單，還要附上打滿3劑的證明影印本，廟方才會發給臂章，確認後才能參加。而為了避免群聚，也開放代理報名。

拱天宮管理委員會總幹事陳春發表示：「有9萬人報名這麼多，但還是安全為主，沒打三劑的，我們今年就暫時不要去進香啦。」

拱天宮表示，今年受到疫情影響，香客大樓不提供住宿，還是出現信徒排隊盛況，也呼籲信眾要做好自身防護。而目前進香行程不受影響，預計5月20日出發、22日抵達北港，由於白沙屯媽祖的路徑，都是由媽祖來決定，對信眾來說將會是一大考驗。