Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

9K nearly naked men seek sacred wood

|
|
 
  
Published: Feb. 22, 2009 at 8:11 PM

OKAYAMA, Japan, Feb. 22 (UPI) -- About 9,000 men clad only in loincloths joined in a free-for-all at a Buddhist temple in Japan Sunday, trying to secure two pieces of sacred wood.

The event at Saidaiji Temple in Okayama was part of the 500th anniversary of Saidaiji Eyo, described as "one of Japan's three oddest festivals," Kyodo reported.

Whoever got out with the two chunks of wood, if not his "fundoshi" or white loincloth, was to be proclaimed by the temple's monks as "the man of fortune for the year."

The ceremony began about 10 p.m. Saturday with a purification ritual in which the men poured cold water on themselves. Then, at midnight, the monks turned off the lights and dropped the two 8-inch sticks among them and the struggle began.

There was no word on who turned out to be the lucky guy.

© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
Notable deaths of 2012 AmfAR Cinema Against AIDS gala Indianapolis 500
BAFTA awards Golden Gate Bridge turns 75 Memorial Day around the nation
Additional Odd News Stories
Your Daily Horoscope
The almanac
1 of 25
President Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom in Washington
View Caption
President Barack Obama awards the the Presidential Medal of Freedom to singer/songwriter Bob Dylan during a ceremony in the East Room at the White House in Washington on May 29, 2012. The Medal of Freedom is our NationÕs highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. UPI/Kevin Dietsch
fark
Bad: Man throws intestines at police. Offal: His own
Problem solved: Officer responds to distress call about woman lying in the street by running her...
Honestly. Who mails a foot?
UPDATED - TORONTO FARK PARTY - June 2nd. 1pm Red Sox @ Blue Jays, 8pm variety show at The Comedy...
Hey, honey, can you drop me off at work? No? Well here's a punch in the face
Actual headline: Filipino govt. resumes talks with MILF. Giggity