May is a month of exception to Tokyo. There is the Festival of Asakusa’s Sanja Matsuri …. otherwise known as the greatest after the end of the year. All day, even miles from Senso Ji, where the celebrations take place for the day of the Good Spirits, is a continual coming and going of small and large “processions”. Here religion is combined with the enjoyment of happiness. There is no need of repentance of monotheistic religion to express their beliefs. The first parade in which I come across is the proof.
The proceeds raised altar with two rows of bearers wearing a yukata color of the “brotherhood” and shorts despite the 15 degrees C and a cold wind.
All around the parade is formed by other carriers who take turns in carrying the temple portatile.Il everything is preceded by a man in a different costume and longer, let’s call it a men’s kimono. He wears a ‘teaching consists of a pole that is attached to the package that we could define the user with the properties of the spirit that dwells in the temple.
So far, however, does not make the atmosphere. It is true that in some cases are formed cordons before the march of the procession, but there is the sad composure of our processions.
The people rejoiced, and the sides of the street smiling or singing intonandosi participates with the porters who carry an alternating pattern a little to the right a little to the left almost staggering.
But above all, by shaking the pillars of the Temples throughout the structure with vertical movement. The purpose is to awaken the sleeping spirit throughout the year and call it his duty! It calls for a bit ‘of everything: security … lucky omens …. … wealth … health … love.
Everyone in his gut he chose the Spirit that is right for her and expressed her hopes, her prayers.
A bit like asking pardon to San Gennaro. But you do not see sad faces, suffering or regret it, if anything assorte.Tutti, taken from the temple and in support of their cadenced litany, are likely to shout “A San Genna … IESC in fora” (Naples) …. get out and wake up and … try to remember me and I asked Thank you! But they do it, laughing and joking with his companions below to take over. Many rhythm to the passage by way of guarding English or Turkish or Indian … here the imagination is not lacking and there are also women in particular, some very young, which enliven the assembly carrying the weight of the temple while walking. Someone occasionally winces to mean “do not take it anymore” to shoulder the weight and immediately there is a partner ready to replace it. At first glance it might seem like a folk affair. But who said that one religion must necessarily be serious and staid, deprivation and constrictive?
You want proof?
Anyone, even a Westerner like us, can participate!
Taking care to get in touch with a “Brotherhood” with some notice, and to provide a kimono or a yukata, even one of us can be part of the happy brigade.
Sometimes the procession is preceded by a cart on which the players sing their music.
There’s a flute, there is the gong, but in the first row there are the drums almost exclusively played by women with a serious and almost absent themselves busy with their chopsticks.
Halfway through the day almost all over the District is in full swing with no less than a hundred different processions, each coming from places where there are times throughout the year hosted the various spirits.
The streets are gradually closed by the brigade parade and everyone follows his own path that crosses a very special times with those of others, led by a coordinator who dress differently to walk ‘back gives meaning and direction … if so you can say.
The tempers flare and progressively more time passes the more increases the heat.
Spirits come across children and in this case, the Temples are linked to a child and are driven or supported by boys and girls …..
At a distance drumming resonate throughout the small apartment of low houses and ancient, perhaps among the last left standing in Tokyo after the bombings of World War II.
All this to the temple Senso ji where a good time all the temples portable altars are to come … sooner or later …. the proverbial haste of the Japanese metropolis today, the Sanja Matsuri Festival, it’s not ours!
