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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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The Hadaka Matsuri Festival, held at the Sadaiji Kannon Temple on Honshu Island, has been described by foreigners as a “shaking meatball”. <\/strong><\/p>\n On the third Saturday of every February, volunteers dressed only in “sinks” push each other with all their might to reach the sacred sticks.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The sacred sticks known as ‘Shingi’, are believed to bring good luck to anyone who manages to get one of them.<\/p>\n The event, known as Saidaiji Eyo, lasts 30 minutes in total, and most of the participants come out with cuts and other minor wounds.<\/p>\n But while coronavirus restrictions are in place in Japan, organizers acknowledged that this year’s celebrations were more “modest”, although the festival was canceled.<\/p>\n The priests of the Sadaiji Kannonin Temple allowed this time only a small gathering of 100 young people performing the ritual behind closed doors.<\/p>\n Justifying the decision to hold the festival, Temple President Minoru Omori insisted that despite fears of the coronavirus, participants “need to pray for Eyo”.<\/p>\n “Eyo” in Japanese means “ichiyo-raifuku”, or “endurance of harsh and cold winters and the arrival of warm spring”.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s development was a stark contrast to the noisy festival that usually gathers around 10,000 male participants and a large crowd of spectators.<\/p>\n The festival winners receive the title ‘fuku otoko’ – lucky men – when they place sacred sticks in their boxes.<\/p>\n Hadaka Matsuri dates back 500 years since the believers fought for the letter talisman issued by the priests.<\/p>\n \n<\/p>\n top channel
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