Kumano Hongu Taisha Grand Annual Festival

About this event

This Grand Annual Festival is the largest festival held at Kumano Hongu Taisha. It takes place annually from April 13 to 15, with the "Yunobori Shinji" on the 13th designated as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Wakayama Prefecture. In the Yunobori Shinji, Shinto priests including the chief priest, parishioners, Shugendo mountain ascetics, court musicians, shrine representatives, and sacred children (chigo) depart Kumano Hongu Taisha and head toward Yunomine Onsen for purification while chanting sacred songs to the rhythm of drums. At Yunomine Onsen, they purify themselves in hot spring water (Yugori) and eat hot spring rice porridge (Yugayu). Furthermore, because the deities of Kumano are believed to dwell in the heads of the sacred children, they are never placed on the ground except during rituals, and their fathers carry them on their shoulders while moving. In the afternoon, a children's sacred dance called the Yatsuhatsu Shinji is performed at Yunomine Oji, believed to induce divine spirits into the children. After the ritual, carried on their fathers' shoulders along the mountain path known as Dainichigoe, they perform the Yatsuhatsu Shinji at Tsukigaoka Shrine before moving to the former shrine grounds of Oyunohara. In the evening, the Miyawatari Shinji procession forms the eve parade. On the 14th, the Funadama Grand Festival and the festival eve are held, with the Funadama Grand Festival praying for bountiful catches and maritime safety. The Togyosai procession, which marks the finale of the Grand Annual Festival, consists of two rituals: the main shrine ritual and the procession from Hongu Taisha to the former site of Oyunohara, conducted grandly with many participants every year. At Oyunohara, local children in traditional costumes perform the Yamato Mai dance to flutes and drums, and shrine maidens present their sacred dance. The sacred children dedicate a rice-planting ritual, followed by Goma fire rituals performed by mountain ascetics and rice cake tossing (Mochinage).

Venue

Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine

1110 Hongu, Hongu-cho, Tanabe, Wakayama 647-1731