OtaueMatsuri

Ref: OnceUponATimeInJapan

Otaue Matsuri (Rice-Planting Ceremony)

See: [Otaue Matsuri (Rice-Planting Ceremony)]

See: http://blogs.bootsnall.com/Elil/otaue-shinji.html Otaue-Shinji by Adam Shane]

The Otaue Ceremony at Hiromine Shrine is held in hopes for a good rice harvest and it is the most important ceremony among the many rituals for agriculture. People were afraid of epidemics and famine caused by insects that do harm to the rice plant. So they have participated the ceremony to pray for a good harvest and for a good life at the beginning of the rice-planting season. Additionally they have sought fortune telling about the harvest for the coming year. At this ceremony a temporary rice-field surrounded by wooden boards is made in front of the shrine and it is divided into three sections for three different rice groups depending on the harvesting time: early, medium and late. Field workers, young rice plant carriers, young female planters, umbrella carriers, drummers and flute players are first purified by a priest. Then, field workers prepare the field by using a wooden plow and young rice-plant carriers throw the plants from their baskets into the temporary field. Young girls who wear a hat with cherry blossoms start planting the rice. During the ceremony, flutes and drums are played while accompanied with a song.