The local festival for Jizo and Lantern Floating in Japan

 Today, I'd like to show the local festival for Jizo (Jizo Bon) and Lantern Floating held in Maibara City, Shiga Prefecture, one of the local cities in Japan.

 These are stalls set up at the festival for Jizo where shaved ice, chocolate banana, fried potato, etc are sold. Stalls are inseparable from festivals.

 Children in yukata robes are releasing the floating lanterns made by themselves. 

 Floating lanterns are passing under the stone bridge connected to the Jizo-do temple. Yellow arrow shows the Jizo statues lively decorated by the offerings. Sorry it is too small to recognize. 

 Many lanterns are hanging at the both sides of the entrance of the Jizo-do temple. Lantern floating starts from about 50m to the left. 

This is the simplified map related to the blog's contents.

Speciality of the festival made by locals that reflected the times, such as what was popular each year.

  Well, these preliminaries have gone on too long, let's get down to the main topic.

 Sorry, I didn't mean to go on so long. Please read until the end if you're interested. 

 Today, I’d like to show you a festival for Jizo, Jizo Bon. Jizo is a deity enshrined along roads and other places linked to the belief in roadside guardians and protects children on a daily basis. Jizo Bon is held actively in the Kansai region, mainly in Kyoto Prefecture and Shiga Prefecture.　

↓The Jizo statues enshrined next to the Jizo-do temple and also close to the water origin of Jizo river at Samegai, Maibara City where Lantern Floating was held.  Usually, the Jizo statue wears a red hood and bib (an apron for an infant). Jizo statues do not necessarily have human figures. But, they can also be just round stones.

 Jizo Bon at Samegai, Maibara City in Shiga Prefecture was held on August 23th and 24th.

 Generally speaking, Jizo Bon is an event in which children play a leading role to pray for the continued healthy growth of themselves without injury or illness. Flowers, paper lanterns, sweets, fruit, etc. are offered to the Jizo statue, making it look lively.

 However, what the children are interested in are the lively food stalls, I suppose. Shaved ice, Fried potato, Yakisoba (stir-fried noodles with vegetables and meat) and Choco banana, etc. were sold at stalls. For example, shaved ice is sold at the front stall in the below photo.

 In addition to stalls, local Japanese sweet shop, soy sauce shop and hand craft shop also do business outside their own shops like stalls.  

 So, this is where we will get into the main topic.

 The finale of the Samegai Jizo Festival is the Lantern floating, which starts around 8pm on August 24th. But today it seems like it's going to rain, so the start was moved up by 10 minutes.

 Lantern floating starts from near the water origin of the Jizo River, they are released one after another after a candle was lit. Children in yukata robes also released the floating lanterns made by themselves. The light of lanterns reflects on the surface of the river, creating a spectacular view.

 By the way, the Jizo River is famous for the flowers of Baikamo. Actually, I posted the blog titled "Baikamo, a pretty white flower blooming underwater in a cold, clear stream" on July 12th. Please check the Blog if you like.

↓ This is a flower of Baikamo below the water taken during the day using a water proof camera. 

 This is the Jizo River where Lantern Floating will be held at night. Flowers of Baikamo are blooming proudly.  Lanterns are released from the water origin of the river, about 200m ahead from here. 

 At first, red lanterns were released, probably as a starting signal.  The light of the lanterns is reflected on the surface of the river. They have a fantastical brightness, creating an indescribably mystical ambience. 

 Many lanterns are hung above a small bridge and along the river near the Jizo-do temple where the large stone statue carved in the Kamakura period (1185-1333) is enshrined. The light emitted from these lanterns is also reflected on the river.

 The Jizo-do is usually closed, but during the Jizo Festival we can have a honor of seeing this stone statue (the arrow ahead) through the gap in curtains.

 

 Many visitors are taking pictures from the small bridge ahead. But I don’t mean to brag, but I think my photographing position is better, because the light of many hanging lanterns and floating lanterns are reflected on the surface of the river at the same time.

It was very hot and humid tonight. Fortunately, it didn't rain until the Lantern floating were finished.