This winter I visited several fire festivals at different
shrines around Kyushu. This one was on Dec. 5th at our local Atago
shrine. After a number of rituals the fire is lit under loud chanting. At first
priests walk bare feet on burning coal and through the fire.
After that a path of hot ashes is formed and people of the public can
participate. It is supposed to destroy evil in and around your body.
Preparations
Tying the knot
Swords, bow and arrow and other fighting utensils were used in the rituals
A 92 year old lady walked on the hot coals. She also had to climb the stairs with over 100 steps to get to the shrine in the first place.
images around the shrine's premises
The kanji or Japanese characters for writing are very complicated
and difficult. Not only for us foreigners. Often people practice them on their
hands, like this lady visiting the shrine. What is it that she
writes on the charms that will later be burned in the sacred fire. Names? A
message?
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