Thousands of people raced to offer the first incense stick at some of the nation’s largest temples early yesterday morning to pray for good fortune and prosperity in the Year of the Tiger.

The incense race is a Lunar New Year tradition. It is believed that those who put the first incense sticks in temple burners will have the best luck of the year. Traditionally, the event takes place at 11pm on Lunar New Year’s Eve, which people in ancient times regarded as the beginning of a day.

Crowds gathered in front of the nation’s best-known temples, including the Jenn Lann Temple (鎮瀾宮) in Dajia (大甲), Taichung County; Feng Tien Temple (奉天宮) in Chiayi; and Chao Tien Temple (朝天宮) in Yunlin. People pushed through the doors as soon as they were opened and sprinted to the burners.

The temples had prepared red envelopes and gifts as rewards.