AOBA-MATSURI FESTIVAL

AOBA-MATSURI FESTIVAL
Let’s Celebrate Kobo Daishi’s Birthday!


June 15 (Wed) FESTIVITY

9:00 Buddhist Service < Place: The main hall in Daishi Kyokai >
* Kobo Daishi Kukai was born in Sanuki Province (Kagawa prefecture in Shiokoku island) on June 15th,774. In order to celebrate his birth, this ceremony has been carried on every June 15th as an annual event of Koyasan, since 1778.
10:00, 11:00, 14:00 Gagaku
(Traditional Court Music) performed by Kanagawa Gagaku Club
< Place: Kongobuji >
11:40 Song of Prayer　
12:00 Wakayama Police Marching Band　　
12:00 #1. Marching band by Koyasan Elementary School Students
< From Ichinohashi to Kongobuji, or to Daishi Kyokai >
#2. Hanamido < Starat from Ichinohashi to Kongobuji >
* Hanamido is a small portable altar that enshrines Kobo Daishi in his infancy.
The procession of Hanamido parades along the main street together with other
decorative floats. The processional performance includes dancing and drumming as well.
Anyone can join in the “Local Dancing Team”

14:00 #3. Greetings < Parking lot in front of Kongobuji >
・ The Most Reverend Yukei Matsunaga,
the 412th Chief Abbot of Koyasan Shingon Buddhism
・ Takeji Kise,　a Mayor of Koya Town

EXHIBITION & SERVICES
9:00 Exhibition of Calligraphy, Photographs and Paintings of Buddhist art
< Place: Shinbetsuden in Kongobuji >
Flower Arrangement Display < Place: Betsuden in Kongobuji >
9:00 Tea Ceremony < Place: Okuden in Kongobuji >
* Open to the public. Tea is served for free.
9:00 Performance of Flower Arrangement & Tea Ceremony
< Place: Daishi Kyokai >

(( Admission to Kongobuji is free on June 15th ))

Not An Umbrella Stand

When you visit Koyasan, you may see this kind of stone stands at the entrance of temples.
In this rainy season, you are afraid of your umbrellas taken away by somebody by mistake and try to find the place where you leave your umbrella safely.
But do not put your umbrella in this stand.
This is not a trash can or the umbrella stand but is only set for keeping Kongozue, the special cane which pilgrims are carrying when they travel around Shikoku, the pilgrimage path.
So this stand should be kept clean and nothing else can be put and I hope you'll show your respect for that.

(By KQ)

June Event

Rainy season has just started.
It came more than 2 weeks earlier than usual.
In Koyasan, the greens are most beautiful in June and Kobo Daishi, Kukai was born in this beautiful season.

June 2 and 3
The Summer Prayer Ritual at Sannoin (at Garan) is to be held.
The main Buddha of Nan-in Temple left Nan-in around 8:15 in the morning and is moved to Sannoin. The procession which is followed by many worshippers is going to Sannoin (on June 2). The rituals are held at Sannoin from 9:00 on June 2nd and 3rd.

http://koyasanguide.blogspot.com/2010/07/special-summer-prayer-in-sannnoin.html

June 4
From 18:00, Sannoin Rissei Ritual is to be held at Sannoin.

June 14
Aoba Matsuri Festival to celebrate Kobo Daishi's birthday is to be held on June 15. On the eve of the day, around 18:00, you can see huge paper-made objects which are lit from inside by lantern on the streets of the town.

June 15
From 9:00 the celebrating ritual is held at Daishi Kyokai.
From 12:00, the parades for Wakayama Police Marching Band, local elementary school kids' drum and fife band, the floats enshrined Kobo Daishi in his infancy.

http://www.koyasan-ccn.com/event/eventcal.html#event6

(By KQ)