Taiwanese president joins annual Matsu pilgrimage Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen attends part of a nine-day pilgrimage celebrating the birthday of the folk goddess Matsu (also spelt Mazu). The procession sees thousands of worshippers escort the goddess to over 50 towns and villages along a 400-kilometre route. Devotees line up along the way and kneel down to let the goddess who sits in a palanquin be carried over them as blessing. IMAGES AND VOXPOPS