Preparation for Hote Matsuri

Last Friday, March 10th, Shiogama celebrated/observed Hote Matsuri. There will be more on Hote Matsuri later, but more or less people carry this shrines, play music and carry different things around the city and up and down the 200+ stairs of Shiogama Shrine. Anyway, the main shrine is suppose to be a vehicle for G-d to travel in and only certain "pure" people get the privilege to carry this around the town. How the people get selected, I am still not really sure about but I did get to watch what these people do to prepare for this festival. The photography teacher (and club) from my boy's school goes to this every year to take photos, so that is how I got to tag along as well.


The main part is undergoing a ritual in which one uses water to rinse or take away the evil or bad things within themselves. So wearing what looks like a cotton diaper, in close to freezing weather (on average I would say it was about 35 every night), for a week these people try to purify themselves by reciting prayers and throwing water all over themselves. Check out the photos for a better understanding.