Society

Crowds Flock to Centuries-Old Medical Herbs Festival in Nara

NARA, Apr 20 (NHK) - Medical workers and others have gathered at a shrine in Nara Prefecture, western Japan, for a centuries-old festival to pray for good health.

The Hanashizume-no-matsuri has been held at Ohmiwa Shrine in Sakurai City for over 13 centuries in spring as people in ancient times believed diseases spread when cherry blossoms fall.

Pharmaceutical firms nationwide send medicine as offerings for the event also known as the Medical Herbs Festival. This year, about 2,500 items including cold and stomach medicine were offered before an altar.

On Thursday, Shinto priests offered medical herbs and prayers, followed by a dance by four maidens. Later, employees of drugmakers and medical workers prayed for good health.

A man in his 70s said he came to the festival several times before, and that he hopes to stay healthy as he grows older.

The shrine said medicine that was offered in the festival will be donated to welfare facilities in the prefecture.

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