Thrilling！Taitung celebrates Lantern Festival with three days of “Firecracker Bombing of the God of Wealth”

▲ Taitung’s Bombing of the God of Wealth: Temple personnel light the firecrackers and throw them at the human “flesh-bodied God of Wealth.” (Photo / Courtesy of Taitung County Tourism Website)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

As the Lantern Festival arrives, besides the well-known “Northern Sky Lanterns and Southern Beehive Rockets,” Taitung’s explosive “Bombing of the God of Wealth” has also been listed by the Tourism Bureau as one of the nation’s top ten tourist events. This year’s event kicks off on Lantern Festival and runs for three days with a total of 16 sessions. In addition to the traditional firecracker bombardment, it features a first-ever fusion with hip-hop culture, including rap and street dance performances.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Xuanwu Hall’s Bombing of the God of Wealth in Taitung. The three-day firecracker event is mainly held at Taitung City’s Xuanwu Hall, along with bombings during the God of Wealth’s parade. Locations include Triangle Park, Nanjing Square, and Taitung Tianhou Temple. On the evening of the 14th, there will be a “Street Dance God of Wealth Lantern Festival Gala,” followed by a “Hip-Hop God of Wealth Lantern Festival Gala” on the 15th, featuring performances by rap superstar MJ116 and multiple artist groups. On the 17th, a high-altitude fireworks show will take place at Binhai Park.

▲ Taitung’s Bombing of the God of Wealth. (Photo / ETtoday Archive)

The Taitung Bombing of the God of Wealth has a 50-year history. Initially unsupported by the government, it gained attention after being organized by Xuanwu Hall in 1990 (the 79th year of the Republic of China) and has since become a significant folk event during Taiwan’s Lantern Festival. Temple officials and devotees prepare large amounts of firecrackers, which are lit and thrown at the human “flesh-bodied God of Wealth.” The deafening explosions symbolize the warding off of disasters and misfortune. It’s a common and amusing sight to see people covering their ears yet watching wide-eyed as the God of Wealth passes by.

▲ 2014 Taitung Bombing of the God of Wealth schedule. (Photo / Courtesy of Taitung County Government)