Saikusa Festival

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Saikusa Festival (Saikusa matsuri)

***** Location: Nara Japan
***** Season: Mid-Summer
***** Category: Observance

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Explanation

Saikusa matsuri 三枝祭 (さいくさまつり) Saikusa Festival
Saikawa matsuri 率川祭（いさかわまつり）Saikawa River festival
... mikusa matsuri みくさ祭（みくさまつり）Mikusa festival
yuri matsuri 百合祭（ゆりまつり） lily festival



Main festival at the shrine Saikawa jinja 率川神社, along the Saikawa river in Nara.
June 17

Saigawa shrine 率川神社（いさがわじんじゃ)



saikusa is an old name for bamboo lilies.
They grow in abundance along the Saikawa river and on the sacred Mount Miwa.
Lilium japonicum, sasayuri ささゆり (笹百合)
nanaotome yuri 七媛女百合, nana otome yuri

During the festival black (nigori) and white sake (pure) (shiroki, kuroki) is poured into two barrels as an offering to the shrine deities. These barrels are decorated with many bamboo lilies from Mount Miwa.
This ritual dates back to the reign of Emperor Monmu Tenno　文武天皇 (701–703).

The lilies used for the offering are said to ward off disease. So after all rituals the visitors try to grab one branch to take home and stay healthy until next year.

The lilies are carried to the shrine on the day before the festival.
On the next day after the rituals, the shrine maidens (miko) dace with these branches in their hands.


umasake miwa no mai うま酒みわの舞 Miwa Sake Dance

On this day, many sake brewers from all over Japan come with offerings of their brew, and obtain a ritual cleansing ceremony.





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Worldwide use


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Things found on the way


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HAIKU




献灯の和紙に雨滲む百合祭
kentoo no washi ni ame shimu yuri matsuri

the paper of the lanterns
is dampend by the rain -
lily festival

Fujita Toshio 藤田壽穂


. Discussion of the translation .



百合祭寂ぶ奈良町の一遇に
河合佳代子


七媛女百合もて供奉をしたがへて
河合佳代子


source : www.haisi.com


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Related words

***** . Sake, local rice wine .

***** . Lilies and Kigo



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