Chengdu will host the grand annual temple fair at the Ancestral Temple of Marquis Wu on Feb. 13. 20 children candidates were selected through talent contest to participate in this year’s God of Gladness parade as an important part of the event.

The history of the parade dates back to Song Dynasty (960-1279) in Chengdu area. The tradition is, in celebration of Chinese New Year, local residents join family and friends to parade to the location of the God of Gladness or Xi Shen and visit the Ancestral Temple of Marquis Wu that commemorates Zhuge Liang (181-234), the prime minister of Shu Dynasty (221-263) which was established in the Sichuan area during the Three Kingdoms period (220-280).

The selected group of children will be dressed in traditional costume to play the role of junior God of Gladness when the temple fair opens. They will perform art performances and give out gifts to visitors.

To help them get into their roles, the Ancestral Temple of Marquis Wu, also known as Chengdu Wuhou Shrine museum, will organize training sessions that teach traditional culture including the history of the Three Kingdoms and folklore knowledge.