Different Sort of Matsuri
Activities take place at several locations, during this festival, starting and ending here.
The straw-roofed structure is known as an asagi or Kami-Asagi.
Consider it a worship house, a place where a priestess prays to the sacred deities.
Arriving at the village of Ada a bit late, I missed the prayers at this location and moved on.
Being a bit late gave me an excuse to skip climbing the mountains in the blistering hot sun.
The men (decorated with vegetation) came down from the hills on a trail bordering the river.
Following the drummer, they are chanting "Hey, Ho, Hoi" or something like that.
Three groups of men following drummers, converge on this field bordered with banana plants.
Women are waiting in the open space, where the men circle around them.
The guys used tree branches to shoo away evil spirits up in the hills above the village.
Down on the outskirts of town, they use the sticks to swat evil spirits out of their women!
It's not some sort of domestic violence. Just ritual smacks of the sticks on the gal's heads.
Look close enough and you can see them smiling or laughing.
At some of the homes in the village, I noticed mothers holding their children up to be swatted.
A sacred grove, in the center of the village, is visited by the chanting, drumming men.
Only about five minutes is spent here circling the area before, shooing away evil spirits.
Facing the sea, men kneel and pray for a good catch and safety during the season.
Rituals and prayers have been conducted in the fields, on the mountains, and along the shore.
After marching under the hot sun, it's time to get rid of the itchy decorations of the jungle.
A quick dip in the ocean cools our heroes off before they head back into town.
Many of them will jump in the river, to rinse off the saltwater before heading home.
About a three-hour break in the schedule takes place before the next events.
Evening Activities
A field in front of the Kami-Asagi becomes center stage for the rest of the festival.
To the sound of Sanshin (3 stringed banjoes) a ritual dance is performed.
Women give the orders here, instructing men on the planting of rice.
Let's just call this a pole dance, the men are doing. Women are watching the men smiling, too.
When they poke that thing into the straw roof, I guess that could be considered the climax.
As the sun begins dipping below the mountains, women perform dances in their kimonos.
Ahum, eligible females would be wearing white uniforms. Other gals are leading the dance.
Before long, it becomes dark outside and the dances become more quickly paced.
Visitors along the sidelines are sitting on mats eating and drinking alcoholic spirits.
Time for me, to put the cameras away and do some socializing before, heading home.
