Kanda Matsuri or the Kanda Festival, is one of the three great Shinto festivals of Tokyo, along with the Fukagawa Matsuri and Sannō Matsuri. The festival started in the early 17th century as a celebration of Tokugawa Ieyasu’s decisive victory at the battle of Sekigahara and was continued as a display of the prosperity of the Tokugawa shogunate during the Edo period. Additionally, the current form of the festival is also held in honor of the kami of the Kanda Myojin.
The festival is held on the Saturday and Sunday closest to May 15, but since it alternates with the Sannō Matsuri, it is only held on odd numbered years. On these years, the festival takes place at the Kanda Shrine in Kanda, Tokyo as well as surrounding central Tokyo districts. Its prominent parades involve about over 200 mikoshi, in addition to musicians, dancers and floats.
A local resident carries a flower umbrella to lead a portable shrine at the Kanda-Myojin shrine during the Kanda festival in Tokyo, Japan, on May 10, 2015. The festival dating back to the Edo period is one of the three major festivals in Tokyo.
A local resident performs on a portable shrine before he leads it into the Kanda-Myojin shrine during the Kanda festival in Tokyo, Japan, on May 10, 2015.
A man wearing a mask of a Tengu or Japanese long-nosed goblin, attends a ritual for the Kanda festival at the Kanda-Myojin shrine in Tokyo on May 9, 2015.
A Shinto studies specialty student in traditional costume is helped by a staff to prepare before a ritual for the Kanda festival at the Kanda-Myojin shrine in Tokyo on May 9, 2015.
Female local residents carry a portable shrine during the Kanda-Myojin shrine’s summer festival, called the Kanda Matsuri on May 10, 2015.
Local residents carry a portable shrine into the Kanda-Myojin shrine during the Kanda festival in Tokyo, Japan, on May 10, 2015.
Local residents carry a portable shrine into the Kanda-Myojin shrine during the Kanda festival in Tokyo, Japan, on May 10, 2015.
Local residents carry portable shrines into the Kanda-Myojin shrine in downtown Tokyo during the shrine’s summer festival, called the Kanda Matsuri on May 10, 2015.
Local residents carry portable shrines into the Kanda-Myojin shrine in downtown Tokyo during the shrine’s summer festival, called the Kanda Matsuri on May 10, 2015.
Shinto priests, Shrine parishioners and Shinto studies specialty students attend a ritual for the Kanda festival at the Kanda-Myojin shrine in Tokyo on May 9, 2015.
Shinto studies specialty students in traditional costumes gather before a ritual for the Kanda festival at the Kanda-Myojin shrine in Tokyo on May 9, 2015.
Female local residents carry a portable shrine during the Kanda-Myojin shrine’s summer festival, called the Kanda Matsuri on May 10, 2015.
Shrine parishioners gather before a parade to mark the Kanda festival at the Kanda-Myojin shrine in Tokyo on May 9, 2015.
Women in traditional costumes gather before a ritual for the Kanda festival at the Kanda-Myojin shrine in Tokyo on May 9, 2015.
Kids Portal For Parents India Kids Network
