This year’s Baishatun pilgrimage was originally set to take place in late March/ early April. I had planned it carefully, and delayed the planning of my trip to the UK to make sure that I could attend all three main days.
These plans, of course, had to be put on hold, as the trip to the UK was cancelled and the pilgrimage postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Unfortunately, the pandemic also meant that changes had to be made to the temple arrangements and the scheduling.
The first event was the preparations for the palanquin leaving the temple in the early hours of the morning on July 4. Last time I attended this entailed a packed and frantic few hours in the temple itself while pilgrims readied themselves for the 12-day journey ahead. It had been raining heavily and the air was charged.
This year the weather was beautiful but the central area inside the temple was cordoned off. Crowds packed the area in front of the building, and few people could get inside at any one time, as only the wings were accessible.
The second event was the palanquin’s arrival at Chaotian Temple in Beigang. Last time I covered this event, there was another festival going on, and the temple itself was a hive of activity. This year, due to the postponement, the arrival did not coincide with the same festival, and in fact nothing was going on inside at all. There were only exhausted pilgrims, sitting around the temple with a dazed look on their faces.
I had placed much store in the final day of the pilgrimage, from my experience of the last time I had attended. Again, it was largely unsuccessful for me. This was more, I think, because of my own approach. I had decided that I was less interested in photographing the event than in using it as a source for found scenes. My decision to take a variety of camera formats meant I was weighed down, and I was less than inspired on the day. Many of the opportunities I had anticipated from my experience of the last time failed to materialize. I was foolish to imagine they would. I should have just taken two small format cameras with one lens each. Slim pickings this year.
Still, I got two pages in the Taipei Times: a report and a photo page.
Ingrid says
I totally get your disappointment Paul, when you visualize an experience based on a former one… But I love the scenes you’ve included here and you captured many memorable expressions. The main thing is you still got to go 😊 You’ve brought back so many wonderful memories of the temples and atmosphere I was able to experience while visiting Taipei 💝 Thank you!
Thanks too for including pages from the Taipei news
Ingrid says
I forgot to click on keep sending me new posts… I really look forward to those Paul