In previous years I have been to the Daruma festival at Maebashi in Gumma Prefecture, Japan, but this year I missed the main Festival, instead the day after I went to a Daruma burning in the nearby school grounds to where my in-laws live. The whole ceremony is a bit long so I just uploaded the last part.
Enjoy.
These papier-mâché figures called Daruma are supposed to help you with achieving your desires. They're based on a zen-buddhist legend, and to make a long story short, today the Japanese buy those on New Year and paint out one eye of the figures by wishing for sth. If the wish comes true they paint out the other eye and at the end of the year there are huge ritual burnings of these figures all over the country. The luck, strength wealth etc. only lasts for one year and you have to buy a new one^^
Ganymed88 1 year ago
what is the meaning of this festival?
Genjuro66 1 year ago