By Liu Jiawen, compiled and reported
This Saturday (the 11th) is the 20th day of the first lunar month, also known as “Tianguan Day” in traditional Hakka culture. On that day, the Miaoli County Government will hold a lively Tianguan Festival event at Tongluo Hakka Grand Courtyard (Tonghua Happy Life Park), inviting the public to experience Hakka festive culture. The event will feature traditional Hakka heaven-worshipping ceremonies, Hakka cultural song and dance performances, and a visit from renowned chef Liu Renhua, who will demonstrate New Year’s dishes using authentic local Hakka ingredients combined with health-conscious and low-carbon concepts, teaching attendees how to cook creative Hakka cuisine.
The Miaoli Tianguan Festival will be held on February 11 at Tongluo Hakka Grand Courtyard, with a wonderful dance performance by the Shanshan Dance Art Workshop. (Photo provided by Miaoli County Government International Cultural and Tourism Bureau)
To promote the playful spirit and frugal values of Hakka childhood life, two free hands-on experience sessions will be organized, teaching children how to DIY eco-friendly maltose drums and Hakka floral fabric sandbags. Each session has 20 spots available and will use on-site registration. In addition, the “Hakka New Year Exhibition,” running from now until April 30 at Tongluo Hakka Grand Courtyard, will showcase traditional festival artifacts related to Hakka New Year celebrations, the Fire Dragon Festival, Tianguan Day, and the Ghost Festival, giving visitors insight into traditional Hakka life and food culture.
In addition to Hakka cultural song and dance performances, there will also be a low-carbon Hakka cuisine demonstration and eco-friendly toy DIY activities. (Photo provided by Miaoli County Government International Cultural and Tourism Bureau)
“Tianguan Day” is the legendary day when the goddess Nüwa repaired the sky with multicolored stones. On this day, Hakka people traditionally put down their farm work to worship and give thanks to Nüwa, while also allowing the earth to rest and recover. Hakka communities around the country hold lively celebratory events, and visitors are encouraged to take this opportunity to explore Miaoli and experience authentic Hakka culture.