Taipei Celebrates Hakka Yimin Festival
The celebrations for the annual Hakka Yimin Festival in Taipei City kicked off at the Songshan Tobacco Factory Cultural Park. Mayor Hau Lung-bin attended both the main ceremony to welcome the patron deity Lord Yimin on October 17 and the parade on October 18.
The ritual to welcome Lord Yimin and the procession after the ceremony kicked off on Friday at 8:30 AM at the Civic Plaza. This year’s ceremony features nine Yimin Lord statues from temples across Taiwan. Mayor Hau served as the head ceremonial officer at the ritual, praying to the god for peace and prosperity.
The Hakka Yimin Festival parade took place on the following day. The participants of the parade carry the offerings for Lord Yimin on their shoulder, balanced by a bamboo pole. The parade set off from the gates of Renai elementary School and traveled along Renai Road and Zhongxiao E. Road before arriving at the final destination at Songshan Tobacco Factory Cultural Park.
According to the mayor, over 120 Hakka groups participated in the 2009 Hakka Yimin Festival in Taipei. The City has also invited 156 Hakka cultural groups to perform at the events this year.
Hau remarked that he also noted many new faces among the participating groups. In addition to Hakka groups, there are also members from other ethnic groups and even foreign faces. This shows that the event is not only an important festival for Hakka people, but also a festivity for everyone.
Organized by the Hakka Affairs Commission of Taipei City, the 2009 Hakka Yimin Festival took place at Songshan Tobacco Factory Cultural Park between October 17 and 19. The Yimin Festival commemorates the spirit of loyalty and righteousness demonstrated by the Hakka ancestors.