Hifuri Torch Festival 火ふり祭
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Held for two evenings on Aug. 14-15 during the obon season, people light their torches at Gosha Shrine and proceed to Hibarino park where the torches are thrown up to a large pine tree. The more torches get stuck on the tree, the better the next harvest.This is Hibarino park. The pine tree on the right of the small hill is the target for the torches. This park also serves as the Otabisho during the Hino Festival.
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Entrance to Gosha Shrine. 五社神社
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Gosha Shrine torii
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Pile of straw to be lit. The fire is used to light all the torches.
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White and red torii
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Torches
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After it gets dark, the pile of straw is lit and people come to light their torches.
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Lighting torches.
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The torch procession goes from Gosha Shrine to Hibarino park.
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During the procession, children use sticks to hit the torch flame. They had great fun.
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Hino Hifuri Festival, Shiga.
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Hibarino park. Map
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This man holds multiple torches.
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Throwing a torch up the pine tree. Very few people succeeded in landing the torch on the tree (which doesn't burn down).
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