Gods Walking on Fire, Brave Divers Jumping into the Sea — The Yehliu Gods’ Harbor Purification Festival Kicks Off on the Ninth Day

▲ Yehliu Gods’ Harbor Purification Cultural Festival in New Taipei City (Photo / Courtesyof the Yehliu Bao’an Temple official website, the same applies to the following images, archival photo)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

As famous as the “Northern Sky Lanterns and Southern Beehive Rockets” during the Lantern Festival, the “2014 Yehliu Gods’ Harbor Purification Cultural Festival” will be held from February 8 to 14 (the ninth to fifteenth days of the first lunar month), featuring a unique ritual where brave men carry the divine palanquin and leap into the sea.For the first time this year, the New Taipei City Government has recruited 103 brave divers to immerse themselves in the sea blessed by the gods. Registration is now open, and each diver will receive a “Brave Diver Certificate.”

The New Taipei City Government stated that for those afraid of jumping into the water or not wanting to get wet, a large transparent inflatable roller barrel will be set up on the shore. Participants can stand inside the barrel while being pushed into the harbor by staff, experiencing the feeling of harbor diving. In addition to the brave divers, for those not good with water, the city government has also set up a platform at sea with a divine palanquin placed on it. The surrounding area of the platform is equipped with misting devices, so when people “drill under the palanquin,” they will be sprayed with seawater blessed by the gods and receive blessings.

Jiang Junting, Director of the New Taipei City Civil Affairs Bureau, said that the Bao’an Temple next to Yehliu Fishing Port is dedicated to Kai Zhang Sheng Wang (the Sacred King of Zhangzhou). It is said that over 100 years ago, the waters nearby were very turbulent. The Sacred King informed his followers through a spirit medium that he would personally descend into the harbor to purify it. Since then, every year during the Lantern Festival, young and strong devotees have carried the divine palanquin and rushed into the sea. This is the origin of the harbor purification ceremony, which has become a unique religious cultural event in Taiwan.

▲ The Yehliu Gods’ Harbor Purification Cultural Festival in New Taipei City, with “fire-walking” on the right.

Jiang Junting said that during the “2014 Yehliu Gods’ Harbor Purification Cultural Festival” on the Lantern Festival, February 14, you can witnesscentury-old unique religious traditions such as the “Sea Purification Patrol,” “Bountiful Catch,” “Gods’ Harbor Purification,” and “Gods’ Fire-Walking.”For example, the event venue will feature a “Fun Fire-Walking Zone,” with “cool fire” that won’t burn, allowing the public to safely experience the blessing of walking on fire.

Additionally, the public can sign up to join the “Harbor Blessing Cruise” to sail out and enjoy the coastal scenery from Yehliu Harbor to Keelung Islet. The entire trip lasts 1.5 hours, and participants can also enjoy a meal of freshly caught seafood cooked by local fishermen.

▲ The Yehliu Gods’ Harbor Purification Cultural Festival in New Taipei City.

Moreover, during the event period, 500 free “crystal blessing bottles” and “peace charm bags” will be distributed daily. The “crystal blessing bottles” can be filled with water for blessings, while the “peace charm bags” contain “peace rice.” After cooking, it is believed that “eating the peace rice ensures a smooth new year.”

The public can also take part in the “Throwing the Sacred [, Pray for Good Luck” activity. By throwing and hitting the sacred [, participants can draw a red envelope containing lottery tickets to bring good fortune for the new year.

The Civil Affairs Bureau stated that online registration for the “Brave Divers” and “Blessing Cruise” is now open. For more information, please visit the official website of the Civil Affairs Bureau at http://www.ca.ntpc.gov.tw/.