honorable mention
Victor Padilla
title
Bombarding Lord Handan
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entry description
The Bombarding Lord Handan Festival is held in Taitung County, in Taiwan's eastern coast, as part of Chinese New Year festivities. This festival takes place at the same night as the Lantern Festival. Lord Handan, an ancient deity, is believed to be afraid of cold. Volunteers, local gansters willing to show bravery or atone their sins, are exposed to hundreds of firecrackers wearing only red shorts and few protection devices, in a way to "warm" and please Lord Handan. The volunteer is carried on a platform across the place and locals through so many firecrackers that even viewers suffer the consequences.back to gallery