The celebration of Akutare Matsuri is held on New Years eve at the Saishoji temple in Ashikaga. The rough translation of Akutare Matsuri is "naughty festival" or "festival of abusive language". At 11PM, everyone marches up the hill to the temple shouting, well, unpolite language (not swearing so as not to offend the children) about what bothered you in the year just passed. At midnight, all line up to make an offering, ring the bell and say a prayer. After that it is welcome to the new year and all is polite again. The photo shows the burning of offerings prior to midnight. In front of the little girl is the shell horn used by the Buddhist priest to lead the group up the mountain.
1 comment:
I think you should enter this photo into the Atlanta Journal's Travel Photo contest, under People.
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