| History |  |
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The festival owes its existence to bad weather and an impious populace. Terrible storms had been battering the country and the ruler of the day, Emperor Kimmei, had discovered from a soothsayer that the gods of the Kamo shrines were furious at the peoples' impiety and had called up the storms as punishment. In order to make amends the Emperor sent some of his courtiers to pay homage to the Kamigamo and Shimogamo shrines and present offerings to the irate gods. The storms soon abated and the people were able to enjoy abundant harvests. The festival continues to this day in commemoration of these events.
The procession through the city is solemn and slow, with courtiers of every rank and file observing the same centuries-old order. The Shimogamo Shrine is the first to be reached and here prayers are offered, warriors dance and a horse dedicated to consoling the gods demonstrates its speed at running, before the participants depart for the Kamigamo Shrine and the final rituals of the day. |
