Wooden boat set alight in Taiwan to ward off bad luck, disease

Video. Wooden boat set alight in Taiwan to ward off bad luck, disease

Residents of Donggang Township in southern Taiwan burnt a ceremonial wooden ship on Sunday as part of ritual believed to ward off diseases and bad luck.

Residents of Donggang Township in southern Taiwan burnt a ceremonial wooden ship on Sunday as part of ritual believed to ward off diseases and bad luck.

More than 90 volunteers from the seaside township helped to build the intricately-decorated boat over the course of three months.

After being paraded around, the boat was set alight at night with piles of joss paper.

Participants believe the boat belongs to a Wang Yeh, one of several divine emissaries who has the power to cleanse those who worship him of evil spirits and disease.