Aoi matsuri
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The Aoi matsuri, said to be the world's oldest surviving festival, takes
place at the Shimogamo and Kamigamo shrines in Kyoto on May 15th. It is
said to have been observed for the first time 1,400 years ago when, according to
legend, the Kyoto people celebrated the abatement of a serious flood.
Branches of a plant with heart-shaped leaves (aoi) are carried during the
procession, hence the name of the festival. The procession is very
beautiful; the participants wear costumes in the style of the Heian period
and a feature of the procession is a large, wisteria-decorated carriage
drawn by black oxen.
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