Beyond sacrifices and prayers for blessings, the Snake King Festival was also filled with numerous activities, making it an exceptionally grand occasion.
It was almost no different from the New Year. Adults would even give red envelopes to the children.
Early that morning, everyone would form long lines in front of the temple. Gongs would sound to clear a path, punctuated by the blasts of horns and muskets. Banners fluttered in the air. Each person in the parade procession held a snake—some clutched them in their hands, others wrapped them around their arms, and still others coiled them across their chests or necks. Some went so far as to kiss their snakes. The variety of poses made for a thrilling and captivating scene.
As night fell, people would bring out the "snake lanterns" they had prepared in advance, connecting them in front of the temple to form a "long snake formation" stretching for one or two kilometers.
