Photo’s taken while the procession was lining up at the Imperial Palace!
” In the parade of the festival, ladies dressed in the ceremonial court robes and men in traditional costumes ride on ox carriages decorated with wisteria (normally used by noblemen in the Heian period). Some processioners carry the Oyoyo Mikoshi (portable shrine) with the Saio-Dai, whose role was to maintain ritual purity and to represent the Emperor at the festival (now, the role of the Saio-Dai is played by an unmarried woman in Kyoto). There are 36 horses, 4 oxen, 2 ox carriages, 1 mikoshi and over 500 people forming the Imperial procession, making it one of the most elaborate and colorful festivals in Japan. Transmitting the elegance of the Heian Period down to the present day.
” Featured is a gorgeous parade in the style of the ancient Heian Court. Everything in the parade is adorned with the hollyhock leaf crest, also called “aoi” _ thus the name of the festival. The parade leaves the Kyoto Imperial Palace at 10:30 in the morning. The 700-meter-long parade passes Shimogamo – jinja Shrine and heads for Kamigamo – jinja Shrine Shrine.
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