Tanabata Rituals at Tenkawa

I was fortunate to be invited to play ambient music at the Tanabata Festival on August 26th at Tenkawa Benzaiten Shrine in Nara, famous for its association with music and dance.

I played meditative ambient in the main shrine , after which the seats were turned around for the main ritual.

In the late afternoon and early evening, everyone went down to the river, where Guji-san led the bonfire ritual, with full-on trance provided by DJ Takashi. Great to dance around the fire, with the girls in white shaking bells in time to the beat.

And finally, as it grew dark, lanterns were lit and set adrift in the river, slowly stretching in an echo of the Milky Way -- Tanabata, dai yo!