The "Naked Dragon" fire ritual at the Kaohsiung Lantern Festival allows the public to send prayers to heaven

By Li Xinyi, compiled and reported

During the Spring Festival Kaohsiung Lantern Festival, the "Prayer Naked Dragon," which attracted nearly 20,000 people to attach prayer cards, was yesterday (the 12th) cremated and ascended to heaven under the blessings and protection of the deities and divine soldiers from Neimen’s Zhuzhu Temple. Huang Bigong, the general affairs officer of Neimen Zhuzhu Temple, said that yesterday was the final day of the celebration for Guanyin Bodhisattva’s birthday, as well as a time to “reward the troops” and thank the divine soldiers. The prayer “naked dragon cards” were cremated and ascended to heaven together with the reward ceremony, carrying all the heartfelt prayers and wishes of the public to reach the heavens.

The Kaohsiung City Tourism Bureau pointed out that during the Kaohsiung Lantern Festival, the naked dragon located in Qishan Gushan Park attracted nearly 20,000 people to attach numerous prayer cards, transforming the naked dragon into a golden, shining flying dragon. The densely packed prayer cards were filled with the public’s wishes, including good health, happy marriages, academic progress, successful weight loss, and more. The dragon’s body bore the love and hopes of the people.

The tourism bureau stated that this two-meter-long golden dragon was transported yesterday (the 12th) to Neimen Zhuzhu Temple, adjacent to Qishan, to join the “reward the troops” event for prayers. Yesterday afternoon, many devotees from Neimen Zhuzhu Temple brought offerings to reward the divine soldiers and deities who had worked hard to assist in the parade over the past few days. Huang Bigong, the general affairs officer of Zhuzhu Temple, said that the Guanyin Bodhisattva’s birthday celebrations would not be fully concluded until the “reward the troops” ceremony ended, as it conveyed a sentiment of reverence to the heavens, gratitude to the gods, and mutual appreciation. It also represented the highest form of sentiment that transcends religion.

● Read more: Kaohsiung Lantern Festival kicks off on 1/27, giving away 60,000 dragon-shaped headwear lights

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