令和7年4月30日・伊勢神宮(内宮)で大祓ー5月の神御衣祭に先立ちーŌharai (Shinto Purification Ritual), Ise Shrine, Japan

令和7年4月30日・伊勢神宮(内宮)で大祓ー5月の神御衣祭に先立ちーŌharai (Shinto Purification Ritual), Ise Shrine, Japan

We are standing at the entrance to the Inner Shrine of Ise Grand Shrine (Ise Jingū) in Mie prefecture. The Inner Shrine, which is the most venerable Shinto shrine, is commonly referred to as “Naikū”, although its official name is “Kōtai Jingū”. The beating of the drum to announce the commencement of ceremonies at Ise Grand Shrine is known as “Hōko” (報鼓). Today’s ceremony is known as “Ōharai”, which, in English, literally means “the Great Purification”. Ōharai ceremonies are held 8 times a year to purify the Shinto priests and musicians affiliated with the Grand Shrine to prepare them for their participation in major festivals. Today’s Ōharai is being held to prepare for the Kanmiso-sai Festival, which will take place here in mid-May. Each of these Shinto priests is holding a wooden sceptre, known as a “shaku”, in his right hand. Nowadays, the carrying of the “shaku” is limited to Shinto priests, and the object is one of their essential possessions. Two of the priests are handing out a plant known as a “sakaki” (cleyera japonica). The sakaki has been considered a sacred plant in the Shinto religion since ancient times. It is shaken over people and objects for purification. Here, a sakaki is being shaken over the priests to purify them. The two priests now gather in all the sakaki branches, as the Ōharai ceremony draws to its conclusion.

大祓ー令和7年4月30日・5月の神御衣祭に先立ち、大宮司以下の神職・楽師を祓い清める儀式です。

Scenes from Ōharai, a ceremony held prior to the Kanmiso Festival in May to purify the chief priest and other priests and musicians.

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