Taiwan's northern city of Keelung celebrates Ghost Month with flaming water lanterns thought to attract and appease spirits lost at sea.
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00:00A whole city coming together to mark 170 years since the end of a deadly conflict.
00:12People in Jilong in northern Taiwan are remembering those who died in a battle between groups
00:16of settlers to the coastal city.
00:18Although peace has long been restored to the area, the 15 local clans involved in the conflict
00:23still look back on their history each year, in a special ceremony during the Ghost Month.
00:28The ceremony is held in accordance with the custom, so people of the same custom will
00:34feel that they should participate in the ceremony because there are 15 clans in total.
00:41Many Jilong natives say they grew up attending the event, but the vibrant celebrations have
00:46attracted attention from far outside the city's borders.
00:49Thousands of people from all over Taiwan have gathered to celebrate the northern port city's
00:54most well-known tradition, and the festivities have kicked off with floats from each clan,
00:58as well as performances from local dance groups and musical acts.
01:02But the day's main event is still yet to come.
01:11The parade ends at the Badaozi Harbor, where the clans first place offerings at each altar.
01:17This year, the Zhang Liaojian clan is in charge of the festivities, and they've made a huge
01:22altar depicting their ancestral home. But the beautiful lantern won't be here for long.
01:26It'll go up in flames and be sent off into the harbor, another special way the city celebrates
01:31this tradition.
01:33Ghost Month is celebrated around the country to honor the dead, but Jilong's traditions
01:37are unique to the area.
01:53According to tradition, lanterns that sail farther reach more souls, and with each passing
02:07year, the clans hope that the bad blood between them remains a distant memory as they continue
02:12this tradition for decades to come.
02:14Kama Shri and Tiffany Wong in Jilong for Taiwan Plus.
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