Shitennoji Wasso Festival

Shitennoji Wasso Festival takes place every year in November 3 rd , the culture day in the Tennoji Ward of Osaka, third largest city in Japan. Shitennoji Wasso Festival though has poignant significance in the culture of Osaka as well as Japan; it is relatively new and started only from 1990.The significance of Shitennoji Wasso Festival lies in the fact that it celebrates the history of cultural interactions and associations between ancient Japan and east of Asia.

Ancient Japan came in touch with the Asian civilization and its rich culture through the ocean and inland sea. For many centuries Naniwazu, an ancient port situated in Osaka was the main gateway to Japan and from this port only Osaka got its original name "Naniwa no tsu" which refers to the center of trade and cultural exchange between ancient Japan and other Asian naval regions. Shitennoji Wasso Festival was created with the aim of a realistic and vivid portrayal of this crucial and valuable exchange and also to celebrate it. Since the Shitennoji Temple played an important role in accommodating significant foreign guests so it became the most appropriate location selected for Shitennoji Wasso Festival. The term wasso originated from a Korean word meaning "has come" and is acknowledged to be the origin of the Japanese wasshoi, which people shout as they carry mikoshi (portable shrines) at festivals.

This temple was founded in 593 by Prince Shotoku and it is acknowledged as the oldest officially administered Buddhist temple in Japan. Statues of four heavenly kings were curved by prince Shotoku to pray for his victory over the Manobe clan and Shitennoji Temple was primarily founded to enshrine the statues to accomplish a vow after attaining victory. This famous temple still retains its original design from the Asuka period. The annual Shitennoji Wasso Festival held at this temple commemorates the temple's service as an international diplomatic center where foreign guest were received and entertained.

Primary Attributes of Shitennoji Wasso Festival

• Shitennoji Wasso Festival comprises of a dazzling parade of decorated floats, palanquins, costumed participants, musicians and a collection of ceremonies at the Shitennoji temple.
• Approximately 3,600 citizens clothed in traditional outfits takes part in Shitennoji Wasso Festival every year and makes it more vibrant, vigorous and sparkling and they are accompanied by sounding gongs and beating drums.
• Shitennoji Wasso Festival starts in the early half of the afternoon and inaugurates with a parade and while parading the participants shout ‘wasso'.
• The parade of the Shitennoji Wasso Festival starts from a distance of 1.5 kilometers away from the Shitennoji temple where all festivities and associated rituals takes place.
• The entire parade comprises of two groups, the first group starts from the furthest location of the Shitennoji temple and they portray the different parties from Asian continent and in the midway the first group is welcomed by the other parade group .The second group portrays the receiving Japanese party as they depart from the Shitennoji temple and finally both the group unites and they continue to head towards their ultimate destination where the closing ceremony of the Shitennoji Wasso Festival occurs.

If anyone is interested to visit Japan in the first week of November then attending Shitennoji Wasso Festival is a must for all the tourists.