Scatter parched beans in cosy Nara

 Setsubun events were held at some places  in Nara city  on 3rd February. Setsubun means the day before of  beginning of spring according to the calendar. When I was a child we pierced a head of sardine by a stick of holly and placed it at entrance and scattered parched beans to avoid evil on the night of that day.



A owner of rice paddy put on a mask of Tamukeyama-hachimangu performed a rice planting event(from web-site)



Setsubun-mantoro at Kasugashine(from web-site)

 I visited Gangoji-temple before going to Todaiji-temple.
A lot of talismans covered with hinoki's leaves were piled in the square at Gangoji-temple and were waiting to be burnt.  And  two Yamabushis, several priests and several holders of Kendo grade surrounded the pile of talismans. Opening performance was introduce their skills  by kendo grade holders.


Some holders of Kendo grade performed


Next, a Yamabushi released an arrow from his bow to five ways for exorcism. The appearance was amusing to us. We expected the arrow would fly highly. But only the first arrow flied over our heads but after that, he pretended to aim at sky and soon released the arrow  on the ground, maybe for safety.





A yamabushi shoot an arrow to some direction




A yamabushi blew a triton to notice the show





the climax of Saitougoma-yamabusis walked on the fire( from web-site)

I've known about "Omizutori at Nigatsu-do in Todaiji-temple. But I didn't know about scatter parched beans at Nigatsu-do in Todaiji-temple.
A lot of people were gathering under Nigatsu-do's balcony. But the number of people can enter in the ground of under Nigatsu-do's balcony was limited and other people couldn't enter in there were waiting in line around Sangatsu-do. The ground of under Nigatsu-do's balcony  is slope.
Before scatter beans, a policeman warned from the balcony of Nigatsu-do "Please don't push other people because if someone injured we can't do this from next year. The number of beans is limited so people waiting in line can get  but people outside can't get, so heed this -especially people around there." This speech evoked audience's laugh.  we were standing outside.


Many people were waiting under the balcony of Nigatsu-do



People who scatter beans on the balcony of Nigatsu-do.  Beans wrapped in paper are flying.

 Scatter beans was over  in only some minutes. When I was taken aback and disappointed at that shortness, a good luck came down.  Some people who scattered beans  came down to us from the balcony with beans,bells,breads,peanuts etc. Many people around me gathered round those distributors to get beans. I thought I can't get anything but a young woman in front of me turned around to me and handed a bell to me. " I could get two bells so I want to give you  one of two." she said.
"Thank you very much." I didn't expect things like that. I was surprised to her honesty.
I should have finished up to get something at this point. But What a greedy person I was compare to her! Another distributor came near me and I got two bags of beans and four bells. So I wanted more good luck or happiness.


I got these bells ,a bags of peanut and beans at Nigatsu-do

 This time, I discovered cosiness of Nara that is  maybe not sophisticated but warm. For funny speech, amusing performance, honest person, conscientious distributor, culture surrounded by big scale temples,gradual slop and so blue sky.
On that day some event of Setsubun were held in Nara.



A red demon and a blue demon at Tsuinasiki of Kofukuji-temple(from web-site)