The Uyagan rite is held on
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| 1.Ancestral deities form a circle
to sing and dance to a sacred song. The song is
led by the head priestess (the women in the pure
white kimono) |
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| 2.In the rite,
women surround the head priestess, rub or shake
the tree leaves in their hand and sway their hips.
These ritual gestures are extremely simple but may
continue for long hours |
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| 3.Women don a woven hat made
from tree leaves and carry tree branches, leaves
or canes in their hands |
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| 4.A sacred five-colored sash
is tied around their hips |
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| 5. Tradition forbids people
from seeing these deities from the front or meeting
them |
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| 6. The ritual is officiated
solely by these priestesses and is extremely secretive.
Details of the ritual are guarded from men and family
members |
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iyako's Oogami Island, and in the Karimata and Shimajiri districts.
According to the lunar calendar, the rite takes place from June
to October on Oogami Island, and from October to December in
Karimata and Shimajiri.
Priestesses go through rites in which they confine themselves
for days.
After this confinement, they emerge as ancestral deities to
purify and bestow fertility to surrounding communities, and
then depart.
Functions of the rites are heavily guarded and much is still
unknown.
Photo Courtesy of: Sadamori Shinjo |
