Still goes on "Gion Matsuri"Festival

Gion Matsuri is not over yet!
This ancient beautiful festival goes on whole July.
Hoko float has finished at the middle of this month.
That was ofcourse the main event of this festival, though it is not my favorite part of this Festival.
On the 23rd, there will be a Tea ceremony held by Sado Specialist at Yasaka shrine.
In the afternoon, ancient instrument"Biwa" and other music will be played.

On the 24th, Hansagasa paraids are held in the morning and very alive 3 Mikoshis will start to be carry around the Kyoto city .
Personally , this Mikoshi event called "Kankosai" is the highlight of the festival.
In the powerful and vivid air, those 3 mikoshis will arrive to Yasaka shrine.
Sweaty strong guys dedicates their energy into carry the spirits of Yasaka god.
When they all came back to the main shrine and finished the blessing crap, All the sudden, light of the shrine and surrounded lights will be turned off.
In the darkness, in spite of the big number of people there, what you can hear is only a slight sound of Koto, and the sacred voice of the Shinto priest .
He comes from the deepest part of the shrine to bring back the spirit of god from those Mikoshi.
You can not see anything except the white shadow of cloth which covers the spirit.
This is the moment to not see but to feel something by your sense .

The gion festival originated as part of a purification ritual to appease the gods.
Time to time, the festival changed the figure along the declination and glory.

In the flow of time , even if the figure changes, ,I hope , people wouldn't lose the heart of gratitude. And , every year when this time comes, remember the how seasons and nature nourishing our lives.

********Yasaka Shrine Gion Festival Ceremonies ******
July 23rd 9am Tea ceremony
13:30pm music play
July 24th 10am Hanagasa Junko parades
17:00pm to late evening
Kankosai Mikoshi and Mitama Utushi
July 25th 13:00pm Kyogen dances
July 28th 20pm Washing Mikoshi(purifying)
July 29th 16:00pm finishing ceremony (there is nothing so special)
July 31st 10am The huge ring will appear at one of the small shrine in Yasaka .
You can go through inside of this ring and wish a good health and fortune.