Temple decorates Matsu statue for rainmaking ritualBy Hsieh Chieh-yu and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writerTainan’s Orthodox Luermen Shengu Temple (正統鹿耳門聖母廟) decked out its Matsu statue in a new costume, with a litter and porter, for a rainmaking ritual at Nantou County’s Sun Moon Lake (日月潭) this weekend. Wang Ming-yi (王明義), head of the temple, on Thursday said that temple administrators were informed by the goddess via divination that a rainmaking ritual must be performed. A Matsu statue wearing a new costume and seated on a rattan throne is pictured in Nantou County’s Lugu Township on Wednesday. Photo: Hsieh Jieh-yu, Taipei Times, courtesy of the Lugu Township OfficeYesterday, a rainmaking ritual was held with the statue on the lakeshore, he said, adding that the statue is today scheduled to travel around the county’s Lugu Township (鹿谷) to bring rain. Last year, the temple’s Matsu statue traveled around Taiwan in a 21-day blessing ritual to protect the nation against COVID-19, Wang said.

Source: Taipei Times April 17, 2021 15:56 UTC