Stamping in the New Year
Sumo Grand Champion Asashoryu, performs the traditional ring purification ritual, Dohyo-iri, to celebrate the New Year at the Meiji Jingu Shrine in Tokyo, Japan.
The ritual is also performed at the start of each day of a tournament by the the Yokozuna - the Grand Champion. However, if there are more than one champion then the ritual is performed by each.
First performed in 1789, the first step in the Dohyo-iri is a loud clap to alert the gods. The second step involves raising arms to show that no weapons are concealed. Finally, the Yokozuna scares away the evil spirits by stamping his feet.
Comments
eek wouldnt wanna be squashed by him!
this is fascinating, hadn't appreciated the rituals of sumo!