Avoid Aofeng Mountain on the evening of August 8th for 'sending off the meat dumplings' ritual

Residents in Taichung's Qingshui District are being advised to alter their evening plans on August 8th due to a traditional folk ritual known as "sending off the meat dumplings" (送肉粽). This ceremony, aimed at dispelling malevolent spirits, is scheduled to take place on Aohai Road, located outside the Aofeng Mountain Bicycle Park.

The ritual will be conducted by three pháp sư, or ritual masters, who will perform the ceremony between approximately 9 PM and 11 PM. The event is a significant cultural practice in the coastal areas of central Taiwan, intended to cleanse and appease lingering spirits associated with death.

Following the ceremony at Aofeng Mountain, the procession will continue. The pháp sư will escort the symbolic "meat dumplings" directly to the coast of Fangyuan Township in Changhua County. The organizers have stated that the ritual itself will not obstruct other traffic routes, but they are requesting that the public be aware of the event and its timing.

Local authorities have been informed, and the organizers have applied for the necessary permits for the road usage. While some online discussions have touched on superstition, the event is proceeding as planned. The announcement serves as a public notice, urging those who might be in the vicinity to either travel before or after the specified hours to avoid any potential disruption or spiritual "clash."