Interesting combinition of Western Christianity and traditional Tayal beliefs. To enter the village church, we passed under a symbolic gate made of silvergrass and received blessings from tribal elders who swept our backs in a traditional purification ritual.

A rare privilege we had to experience the traditional Tayal song led by the church priest and chief of the tribe to welcome our group to their mountain home. 🎵

Fire symbolizes life for Tayal people and carries several cultural meanings, including signaling a village's location in the mountains. To welcome us, Piyaway residents set a fire using silvergrass (五節芒).

@nigelslater.bsky.social
Wow! Happy to know you visited Taipei and enjoyed our urban farms. Some more photos from Xinren community farm for you.

One interesting strategy I heard to cope with heat in parks is: throw people into the pond! 😆