![\"Kawatari](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/fn_kora-taisha-kawatari-festival-resize_2023_cl.jpg?resize=1400%2C1049&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nAlso known as the \u201cHekokaki Festival,\u201d the Kawatari Festival marks the onset of summer in Chikugo. The name \u201cKawatari\u201d originates from the local tradition of crossing the Chikugo River to visit the revered Kora Taisha Shrine. To ward off misfortune, participants wear a red \u201cheko\u201d (loincloth), hence the festival\u2019s colloquial name, \u201cHekokaki.\u201d<\/p>\n
Once at the shrine, visitors undergo a purification process. This involves passing through a large thatched ring known as a \u201cchinowa,\u201d approximately 2 meters in diameter, set up at the entrance of the shrine. Accompanied by priests, this ritual purifies the body and soul and is a time for attendees to pray for good health. It\u2019s a unique, symbolic tradition that connects the community with their rich cultural heritage.<\/p>\n
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\u2022 6\/1 (Sat.), 6\/2 (Sun.) Also known as the \u201cHekokaki Festival,\u201d the Kawatari Festival marks the onset of summer in Chikugo. The name \u201cKawatari\u201d originates from the local tradition of crossing the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":30040,"featured_media":153882,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","tags":[],"class_list":["post-163340","event","type-event","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","location-kurume","event-type-festival","en-US"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/event\/163340","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/event"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/event"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/30040"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=163340"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/153882"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=163340"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=163340"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n\u2022 Chinowa pass through ritual: 7:00, 11:00, 14:00
\n\u2022 Free entry
\n\u2022 Kora Taisha Shrine
\n\u2022 1 Mii-machi, Kurume City, Fukuoka<\/a>
\n\u2022 http:\/\/www.kourataisya.or.jp\/matsuri\/hekokaki<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"