Gecko staying in incense burner becomes star of temple ritual｜Taiwan News

[00:00:00]The temple is bustling with worshippers attending a religious ceremony, but one participant caught special attention. A gecko holding on perfectly still to an incense stick inside the burner. The reptile was there for a whole two days surprising visitors. A priest says he's never seen anything like it.

[00:00:23]>> It's the first time I saw this and at a celebration the gecko was perched there during the rituals. When we changed the incense sticks, it took a rest and climbed back up on the fresh ones.

[00:00:34]>> The temple in question is the Seven Dragon Temple in Donggang, which held an enshrinement ceremony last weekend.

[00:00:40]Worshippers quickly found the gecko grabbing onto the incense stick in the sensor outside. When the stick was burned up, the reptile took a break at the bottom, but as soon as a new stick was placed it climbed back up and clung on as before. Could it also be trying to reach the gods?

[00:01:00]>> Generally, our religion says that all living beings have a spirits each with their own spirituality. It came to this auspicious place and communicated with our goddess. It stayed and followed her.

[00:01:13]It's like a guardian, like a good luck charm. When it appears in our homes, it's protecting our homes. So if it's on the incense, it's guarding the ember.

[00:01:22]>> Geckos are thought as lucky animals that protect the places they visit and some say they ensure good fortune for those who let them stay.