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Every three years, around halfway through the first lunar month, Jiali Jintang Temple in Tainan holds the much-anticipated centipede parade as part of the Xialong Incense-offering Ceremony. This year, 108 kids role-playing deities took part in the 201m array, seated high up on a chain of wooden planks on wheels. Assuming the position of gods, they toss items of blessings to the crowd down below, sponsored by their own parents as offerings for good fortune. One kid even had gold jewelry worth NT$30,000 for lucky worshippers.

Young children are dressed to represent deities and seated on a chain of wooden planks, forming a centipede array. They toss items of blessings to worshippers on either side, who are waiting in anticipation. The youngest of the 108 role-playing kids is only 1-year-and-7-months old.

- The kid’s own mother was once seated on the centipede herself. We want the kid to be blessed with health so she’s easier to take care of.

- What did you toss down?
- Red envelopes and candies.
- This is your second time taking part. How do you feel?
- I think it’s really fun.

Every three years, Jiali Jintang Temple in Tainan holds the Xialong Incense-offering Ceremony, which features the spectacular centipede parade. A total of 108 children under the age of 12 are carried on a chain of wooden planks stretching 201m. Each kid represents one of the 108 Stars of Destiny. They toss various auspicious items offered by their own parents at the crowd of worshippers, which included red envelopes and lobsters in some years. Some parents even offered items so generous as genuine US dollar bills and gold jewelry and nuggets.

I prepared some gold jewelry and home appliances.

Worshipper
Centipede parade
I got the feeling that the kid was about to toss something to me. I was really so lucky. I’m just about to travel to Germany to visit my daughter, and I got a US dollar bill. It’s really so great to win a US dollar banknote. I’m keeping it as a memento.

The offerings get people excited about the centipede parade every three years, and parents of the lucky children who get to role-play a deity are equally happy to contribute to this Lunar New Year festivity.

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