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The Japanese “Naked Men” festival where thousands of such people fight to get the “holy staff” has continued this year despite initial fears of a coronavirus pandemic.
The Hadaka Matsuri Festival, held at the Sadaiji Kannon Temple on Honshu Island, has been described by foreigners as a “shaking meatball”.
On the third Saturday of every February, volunteers dressed only in “sinks” push each other with all their might to reach the sacred sticks.
Before the epic battle begins, the men stand for a few minutes in the icy water fountain to purify their bodies, before entering the temple.
Exactly at 22.00 local time the lights go out and in the middle of the crowd are released the ‘holy shops 4cm wide and 20cm long.
The sacred sticks known as ‘Shingi’, are believed to bring good luck to anyone who manages to get one of them.
The event, known as Saidaiji Eyo, lasts 30 minutes in total, and most of the participants come out with cuts and other minor wounds.
But while coronavirus restrictions are in place in Japan, organizers acknowledged that this year’s celebrations were more “modest”, although the festival was canceled.
The priests of the Sadaiji Kannonin Temple allowed this time only a small gathering of 100 young people performing the ritual behind closed doors.
Justifying the decision to hold the festival, Temple President Minoru Omori insisted that despite fears of the coronavirus, participants “need to pray for Eyo”.
“Eyo” in Japanese means “ichiyo-raifuku”, or “endurance of harsh and cold winters and the arrival of warm spring”.
This year’s development was a stark contrast to the noisy festival that usually gathers around 10,000 male participants and a large crowd of spectators.
The festival winners receive the title ‘fuku otoko’ – lucky men – when they place sacred sticks in their boxes.
Hadaka Matsuri dates back 500 years since the believers fought for the letter talisman issued by the priests.
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