KUSHIDA SHRINE, PARADES AND PEOPLE

 

DONTAKU FESTIVAL 2022

On Wednesday 3rd, 2022 we went to witness one of the finest cultural celebrations of Japan and especially Hakata, the Dontaku festival. First, we visited the Kushida Shrine where several people had come to offer their prayers to God. The shrine was more populated than the usual days and we got a chance to pray in the Japanese style. The animal busts such as those of bull, horse, and storks were particularly beautiful to watch. The decorated entrance, shops selling delicious and hot mochi, and the energetic crowd made the environment lively. 

                                  

One of the centuries-old preserved walls of the Kushida Jinja showcases the multiple attempts made by the Hakata residents to preserve the city from external raids. 

Further, we went ahead to witness the parade on the Hakata City street. It was after 2 years of the debacle that the Dontaku parade was seeing the light of the day. Even though a lesser number of groups participated in the parade this year, the number of participating groups was still large, that is, around 150. One of the major takeaways for me after watching the parade was the capability of a festival to bring people together. People from all walks of life in Hakata, the young and the old, participated with great enthusiasm. Each group marching on the streets of Hakata was imbued with splendor and grace. The old and middle-aged women and men, children and adults were equally enthralled by the parades. 

The procession begins with the three god figurines on the horses in the lead. The Gods include The Ebisu gods, a male, and a female, Daikokuten, and Fukurokujo. While the Ebisu Gods are from Fukuoka, Daikokuten is from India and Fukurokujo from China. This reflects the rich syncretic tradition of the religious practices prevelant in Japan.

While people offered their prayers in the shrine they also enjoyed the parades based on baseball teams, mascots, and police teams. This clearly reflects the blend of tradition and modernity. Furthermore, people were not merely spectators of the festival but they also participated in the festival by showcasing their musical or dancing talents. Such active involvement of the people clearly reflects the role of the community in keeping the tradition alive and the role of traditions in binding the people together. The fact that people from all across Japan join this festival makes it an important event in entire Japan. 

One cannot talk about this festival without mentioning the delicious 'umegaemochi'. It is made of rice and soybeans. It is warm and sweet. This sweet is a scrumptious delicacy to mark an end to the festive experience.

The festival brought the entire city to life. People were interacting, enjoying, and contributing their bit to the festival. It was truly a sight to behold.