5/5 Manjit G. 2 years ago on Google
Dontosai
festival
🔥🎉🇯🇵
14
Jan
2022
•This
traditional
event
is
held
at
shrines
where
worshippers
bring
their
New
Year’s
decorations
to
be
burned
in
a
large
bonfire
and
pray
for
good
health,
good
fortune
and
the
well-being
of
their
families.
•The
largest
of
these
festivals
is
held
at
the
Osaki
Hachiman
Shrine,
famous
for
its
hadakamairi
(men
dressed
only
in
loincloths
marching
to
the
shrine).
The
Matsutaki
Festival
of
this
shrine
has
a
history
of
300
years
and
is
the
largest
new
year
countdown
in
the
whole
of
Japan.
It
is
an
event
held
to
burn
offerings
of
new
year's
decorations
and
old
amulets
etc.
and
is
also
known
as
”Sagicho”
generally
in
other
areas
or
”Dondoyaki”
due
to
the
strength
of
the
fire.
On
the
night
of
Jan
14,
New
Year's
pine
decoration
and
Shinto
ropes
etc.
gathered
at
one
corner
of
the
grounds
from
the
surrounding
country
are
lighted
up
in
flames
by
a
”imibi”
around
sunset.
As
a
”gojinka”
to
see
off
the
gods
who
visited
each
household
during
the
new
year,
this
fire
is
said
to
purify
the
minds
and
bodies
of
those
who
come
into
contact
with
it
and
to
keep
their
families
safe
and
healthy
for
the
year.
A
custom
called
”hadakamairi”
where
people
visit
the
shrine
aiming
for
the
”gojinka”
naked
in
winter
used
to
be
practiced
as
well.
Already
established
by
the
middle
of
the
Edo
Period,
this
practice
is
said
to
have
been
started
by
sake
brewers
who
visited
the
shrine
to
pray
for
the
sake
to
be
brewed
safely
as
they
entered
into
preparations
in
the
intense
cold.
Even
now,
thousands
of
pilgrims
wearing
a
white
towel
around
their
heads
and
a
white
cloth
around
their
waists,
holding
a
piece
of
”fukumigami”
paper
in
their
mouths
to
refrain
from
small
talk
and
with
their
left
hand
holding
a
paper
lantern
and
their
right
hand
holding
a
bell
come
to
pay
homage
from
all
over
the
city,
becoming
a
well-known
seasonal
event
of
Sendai,
the
City
of
Trees.
Osaki
hachimangu
shrine
is
decorated
with
beautiful
lanterns
Various
stalls
are
open
all
night!
Positive
and
happy
vibes
all
around!
Tends
to
get
overcrowded
for
this
festival.
So
take
care
of
parking.
Parking
is
available
in
the
shrine
premises
though.
Parking
at
paid
parking
facilities
is
recommended.
Its
10-15
min
drive
from
Sendai
station.
Happy
visit
🍎🙏
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