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The parade starts
at Kumato Shrine, about one mile away. People gather at the
shrine, where the giant wooden phallus has already been lifted
into its palanquin. The portable shrine beside it belongs to
the diety Takeinadane-no-mikoto. He is the "husband"
of Tagata Shrine's principal diety, Tamahime-no-mikoto. |
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The
mikoshi, or portable shrine,
of Takeinadane-no-mikoto
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The
god himself, awaiting
the start of the procession
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The decorations around
the shrine are very pertinent to the theme of this festival.
Here we see a very graphic rendition of a fertility icon painted
on one of the banners that the participants carried through
the streets on the way to Tagata Shrine. |

Before the palanquins
are brought down to the street,
there are some final blessings and hymns.
Once
they are brought down to the street, there is some
dancing and singing before the procession begins moving.

And thus, the procession begins...
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