Sacred Journey: The Pilgrimage of Mazu in Taiwan’s Religious

Photographer

Lai Hung Tse

Category

People Photography - Religious

Company

Lai photography

Submission Group

Professional

Year

2025

Country / Region:

Taiwan

This photo series documents the vibrant pilgrimage of Mazu, Taiwan’s revered sea goddess. Scenes include devotees crawling under her palanquin for blessings, colorful smoke at departure, solemn prayers during passage, and processional footwork through exploding firecrackers—a practice known locally as “eating the fire.” When Mazu’s palanquin pauses at temples, worshippers gather in reverence. These images capture not only ritual intensity but also the spiritual devotion and collective memory that define this faith tradition.

Credits

More Gold Winners
Professional
2025

Photographer / Company

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Category

Nature Photography - Wildlife

Country / Region

France

Professional
2025

Photographer / Company

Lai HUNG tSE

Category

People Photography - Lifestyle

Country / Region

Taiwan

Student
2025

Photographer / Company

Gardenia Zhang

Category

Commercial Photography - Travel / Tourism

Country / Region

United States

Amateur
2025

Photographer / Company

Category

Editorial Photography - Religious

Country / Region

Taiwan