At ORA Engineering, inclusion isn’t just a corporate goal—it’s a core part of who we are, shaped by our close connection with local traditions like the City God Pilgrimage (城隍爺繞境).
As the Halloween season approaches in the West, a time when people honor spirits and seek protection, we find a similar cultural connection at ORA through the City God Pilgrimage (城隍爺繞境), a local tradition where the City God blesses our community with safety and prosperity. At ORA, we’re known for crafting some of the world’s finest titanium bicycle frames, but beyond our expertise, few are aware of the strong cultural and social foundation that unites our team. With nearly 70 employees, aged 22 to 70, representing various ethnicities—Taiwanese, Hokkien, Hakka, Vietnamese, and Indonesian—ORA is more than just a company. We’re a diverse, inclusive family. This sense of unity extends beyond our workplace into our close relationships with our neighbors and local culture. One meaningful example is our annual participation in the City God Pilgrimage, an event that strengthens these bonds and highlights our dedication to cultural inclusion, a key aspect of our commitment to ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles.
What is the City God Pilgrimage?
For our international partners, let us introduce you to one of Taiwan’s cherished traditions—the City God Pilgrimage (城隍爺繞境). This local custom sees the City God (Cheng Huang Ye) of Houli District, along with other deities, traveling through the community to offer blessings and ensure prosperity. Every year, the City God makes a special stop at ORA, blessing our company for a smooth and successful year ahead. This ritual is not just a religious event—it reflects the strong relationship between ORA and our local community.
The Process of Welcoming the City God at ORA
The annual City God Pilgrimage is a lively and symbolic event. It brings together the community and ORA’s employees for a shared celebration of culture and blessings. Here’s how we welcome the City God:
Pre-announcement: Firecrackers are set off to announce the arrival of the gods, letting everyone know it’s time to prepare.
Firecrackers are lit to signal the arrival of the gods, preparing everyone for the ceremonial welcome.
Arrival of the Deities: The ceremony kicks off with the arrival of several gods, led by San Tai Zi (三太子), the deity who drives away evil spirits. Next come the “Great Lords” (七爺 and 八爺), with followers waving 黑令旗 (black command flags) to purify the area. The procession enters ORA’s factory, ensuring protection for the entire facility. Finally, the City God himself arrives, bringing good fortune to everyone.
Welcoming the Deities: Once the City God’s sedan chair reaches its designated stop, our chairman steps forward to receive it. This is a moment of respect, as the chair is carefully placed over prepared 壓轎金 (protective money) to secure blessings. All ORA employees, regardless of their background, gather to pray for the company’s success and future.
Cultural Traditions: After the prayers, ORA hosts a small reception for the temple workers and participants. Local treats, like 紅龜粿 (red tortoise cakes) and 愛玉 (Aiyu jelly drinks), are shared to show our gratitude. This part of the event reflects the friendly relationship between ORA and the local community.
Blessings and Departure: After a short rest, the City God continues his journey. Before leaving, peace-bringing biscuits are given to all ORA employees as a reminder of the blessings received. Our team then works together to clean up the area, wrapping up this meaningful event with a sense of unity and shared purpose.
Employees take home peace-bringing biscuits and pork legs, symbolizing blessings and good fortune after the ceremony.
This event is more than just a ritual. It’s a chance for us to strengthen our cultural inclusiveness. Even our employees from Vietnam and Indonesia join in the tradition, taking part in Taiwan’s rich cultural heritage and deepening their connection with the ORA family.
A Celebration of Cultural Inclusion
At ORA, we believe that embracing different perspectives makes us stronger. The City God Pilgrimage is not only a reflection of our connection with the local community, but also a great example of how cultural inclusion defines our workplace. It’s a fun, meaningful (and yummy) way for us to live out our ESG principles—especially in building strong relationships with our employees and neighbors.
We hope that after reading about our experience, you feel as blessed as we do! Does your company participate in any local cultural events? We’d love to hear about your traditions and how they bring your teams together—share your experiences with us!