36th Echigo-Sekikawa Taishitamonja Festival

About this event

The Echigo-Sekikawa Taishitamonja Festival is a traditional festival held every year to pass down to future generations the legend of the giant serpent preserved in Sekikawa Village and the lessons learned from the Great Uetsu Flood of 1967. The main event is the Great Serpent Parade, in which the world's longest giant serpent—handcrafted from bamboo and straw, measuring 82.8 meters in total length and weighing 2 tons—is paraded through the village. This giant serpent is crafted through the joint cooperation of Sekikawa Village's 54 communities, and its magnificent presence is truly breathtaking. As an event unique to Sekikawa Village that conveys the village's traditions and the resilience of people facing the threats of nature, it was certified as a 'NIPPON Disaster Prevention Asset' in 2024. On the eve of the festival, a fireworks display that lights up the night sky is also held, letting visitors feel the power of nature and the bonds among the villagers. This festival plays an important role in preventing memories of the Showa 42 (1967) Uetsu Flood from fading and in passing down the local disaster prevention culture to the next generation.

Venue

Sekikawa Village

Sekikawa, Iwafune District, Niigata