Shen Dzu and pole dancers

The annual Yimin Festival is the largest Hakka event in Taiwan. Liujia village in Zhubei, one of 15 Hakka villages in Hsinchu that are responsible for the festival, was the location for the event’s main ceremony this year. At this stately occasion, a sea of devout believers could be seen kneeling in prayer before a diverse array of sacrificial offerings including fresh fruit and animals.

For many years, the Shen Dzu – aka God Pig – competition has been an integral part of the festival. After undergoing elaborate artistic makeovers that ooze with visual imagination, the pigs bear no resemblance to their original nondescript former selves.

After the main ritual ceremony, Liujia festival takes on a carnival atmosphere. This is especially true in the evenings when an assortment of snack stalls starkly juxtaposed with sacrificial tables, Hakka opera, and sexy young pole dancers performing in revealing outfits provide a fascinating combination that never fails to draw the attention of tourists.

以下為中英文對照

神猪與鋼管女郎

  義民祭是台灣客家族群緬懷先人的最大年度節慶，新竹竹北六家是2017年新竹、桃園15個客家庄的主祭，各種祭拜的鮮果與牲品，擺満桌面，善男信女虔誠膜拜，場面相當莊嚴。

    多年來，神猪比賽已是義民祭慶典的一部份，神豬經過藝術處理後，充満視覺想像，與一般的豬有相當差别。    祭典儀式過後，六家義民節就有點像嘉年華的活動，特别是夜晚。許多小吃攤位與祭品桌並列，也有客家戲台和穿著清涼的鋼管女郎秀，吸引觀光客的目光。