Tamura Festival, a festival to ward off evil that is said to have a history of approximately 1200 years, was held at a shrine in Koka City, Shiga Prefecture.
This festival is said to have been passed down at Tamura Shrine in Tsuchiyama-cho, Koka City, and it is said that during the Heian period, people suffering from epidemics and poor harvests prayed continuously at the shrine for three days and nights, and the disaster subsided. is said to have originated.
The festival is held for three days from February 17th every year, and worshipers perform the ``fukumame-otoshi'' ritual, in which they drop as many beans as their age into the river to ward off bad luck.
Worshipers who bought beans dropped them from the 5-meter-high bridge that spans the Mitarai River that flows through the shrine grounds, wishing for a safe year ahead.
A woman in her 40s from Yasu City said, ``I fell ill last year, but I was able to return to work safely.I am praying that I can continue to work and spend time with my family in good health.'' I was there.
Eiji Tamura, chief priest of Tamura Shrine, said, ``I hope that those who come to worship will live healthy lives.''