Sprinting water path and welcoming Kewangs in Hsinwen, Chiayi
According to legend, in late March of the Lunar Calendar, Kewangs (Guest Kings) would take an invisible royal ship to the King Boat Pier at Dapai in Hsinwen at high tide. As local deities haven’t seen them for the entire year and missed them a lot, they would sprint down to the water to welcome them before the ship anchors. After the sprinting water path and welcoming Kewangs, cymbals and drums at the head of the parade sound to the heaven to escort the deity back to the temple in his sedan chair. Thousands of believers knee along the Tai-17 Freeway orderly to let the sedan chair pass over them to pray for good luck and health. The ritual is magnificent.
swcoast@swcoast-nsa.gov.tw
