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Iyataka Shrine Videos
Japanese New Year, Ōmisoka 大晦日, Hatsumōde 初詣, Obisha sai お備射祭, by Kari Gröhn, karigrohncom
Japanese New Year: Ōmisoka (大晦日), Hatsumōde (初詣), Obisha-sai (お備射祭), by Kari Gröhn, karigrohncom
The night before New Year (Ōmisoka 大晦日) is a Japanese traditional celebration on the last day of the year. At midnight many people visit a shrine or temple for the first time of the year (Hatsumōde 初詣). Generally, wishes for the new year are made, new charms or amulets are bought, and the old ones are returned to the shrine so they can be burned.
Obisha-sai (御備射祭) is a sacred archery ritual which intends to divine good for the whole year, and also as prayer to ward off bad spirits.
At midnight 31 December, Buddhist temples ring their bells a total of 108 times to symbolize the human sins in Buddhist belief, and to get rid of the worldly desires regarding sense and feeling in every Japanese citizen.