TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Dafuxing Temple in Chiayi hosted an annual matchmaking ritual on Sunday, with hundreds who joined the event hoping to find their future spouse.
Over 500 single men and 100 single women participated in the matchmaking event, reported CNA. Coming from all over Taiwan, the participants, all between the ages of 22 and 45, had to preregister to join.
The women stood on a three-story high platform overlooking the crowd of potential suitors. Each woman tossed a bundle of red ribbon, tied to resemble a large flower, into the crowd for one lucky man to catch.
As part of the ceremony, any man who catches a lucky red bouquet will be introduced to the single lady who threw it. If the two are pleased with the match, it is hoped the couple will exchange information and plan a date together, although participants are not under any obligation to do so.
The Dafuxing Temple is dedicated to the god Yue Lao, who, according to folklore, helps people find true love and resolve marriage problems. He is often pictured holding a magical red string, which is said to connect lovers to their future marriage partners.
The temple reportedly began holding spring matchmaking events to help young people find suitable marriage partners in Chiayi 10 years ago. This is the first year the matchmaking event has included tossing red ribbon bouquets, a custom reportedly based on an old matchmaking tradition, per UDN.
