Mayor Cheng: Joyfully Welcome the God of Wealth and Get a God’s cash for Year-long Prosperity

Mayor Cheng Wen-Tsan of Taoyuan City attended the press conference for the “2016 Festival of Welcoming the God of Wealth in Longtan” held on February 4th and expressed that the 4 meter tall cute version Lantern of Zhao Gongming, the God of Wealth, would be revealed. The Reception of the God of Wealth festival has been scheduled in the 13th and 14th of the first month of the lunar calendar (February 20th to 21st). The festival shall include a street parades and distribution of God’s cash for luck and fortune, poe divination, and the century-old tradition of “Ying-gudong (Welcoming the antiques).” All citizens are welcome to exchange NT$ 1 for a God’s cash to ensure year-long prosperity, success, and wealth. Mayor Cheng also wished to elevate Longtan’s Reception of the God of Wealth into a unique regional celebration of the Lantern Festival on par with Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival and Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival.

Mayor Cheng addressed that “Welcoming the God of Wealth Festival in Longtan” was approved by the Hakka Affairs Council as one of the “12 main Hakka festivals”. “Welcoming the antiques” is a unique century-long tradition of the region and brings about local bustle in the streets of Longtan during the search for various antiques and the settlement’s century-long history. Visitors may choose to head off to Longtan first to welcome the God of Wealth on the eve of the Taiwan Lantern Festival. They may also take a Spring Walk to Longyuan Temple to watch the 4 meter tall cute version Lantern of Zhao Gongming, the God of Wealth.

Mayor Cheng said that the Welcoming the God of Wealth at Longtan represents a traditional local custom. Major events in Taiwan''s Lantern Festival could be described as: “Sky Lanterns in the North, Beehive Fireworks in the South, and Welcoming the God of Wealth Festival in Longtan.” The Taoyuan City Government shall continue to support Longtan’s local customs of street parades and antique reception so that fellow citizens could better appreciate Longtan’s unique culture and Hakka landscape. Mayor Cheng also welcomed both the Mounted Zhuangyuan (principal graduate) Lantern and God of Wealth Zhao Gongming Lantern to the Hakka area of Taiwan Lantern Festival to enliven the celebratory atmosphere.
Providers：Research and Evaluation Commission