The chief organizer of a folk festival in Taiwan’s Pingtung County is commissioning the casting of 158 gold medals that will be distributed to all participating temples.
Taiwan’s Wangye Worshipping Ceremonies are major local folk festivals, originally held to banish evil spirits, but have since evolved into a celebration of peace and prosperity that draw large crowds of devotees from around the country.
The tri-annual Donggang Township ceremonies in Pingtung County are the biggest of the season, and this year it comes with a unique feature. The festival's chief organizer has commissioned the casting of 158 gold medals that will be distributed to all the temples participating in the week-long worshipping festivities.
Each medal costs $15,000 NTD (around $475 USD) per piece. Given their high value, the gold plates will be stored in a secret location before the festival and guarded by police on the day of the event.
This grand gesture from the chief organizer has sparked widespread discussion online and drawn its weight in gold in excitement.