Looking for wealth? Long life? Then the Ebisu Festival is for you – though you may have spend some money to make it…
It’s the “Show Me the Money!” Festival. The city’s working class congregate at Imamiya Ebisu Shrine and give offerings and prayers to Ebisu, the god of commerce, in the hopes of earning financial good fortune during the following year.
The best part of the festival isn’t tossing your hard-earned cash into the shrine god’s pocket – it’s spending it on the mouth-watering yatai food standing crowding the streets surrounding the shrine. Try takoyaki, yakisoba, and grilled pork skewers.
If you’re set on bringing home a bit of luck, stop by one of the stalls that line he entrance to the shrine. Start with a fukusasa – a good luck bamboo branch (these are generally free of charge) and then hang the more expensive charms on it, rather like a Charlie Brown Christmas tree.
If you’re wondering why every stall is manned with beautiful young women – they are the 50 fukumusume – the “lucky daughters” – selected as representatives for the festival. Believe it or not, over 3000 women apply each year for the honor.
Ebisu is one of the seven gods of wealth and good fortune, and more specifically the guardian deity of businessmen. He’s represented by numerous statues of a man with a round face and lots of goodies.
What’s with all the fish? They represent abundance. The rice means good fortune and the rakes are to gather good luck for the coming year.
The festival is three days long and starts around January 9th (the Eve of Ebisu). The main events – including a large parade – are held the second day. The third day is known as “The Last Helping of Luck” for those who need a final shot at lobbying Ebisu.
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SPANISH: Sergio Julian, DRAX Produktion (www.draxproduktion.com)
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Category: Travel
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