Awashima Shrine

Awashima Shrine (淡嶋神社, Awashima-jinja) is a Shinto shrine in Kada District of Wakayama City. On February 8th the shrine hosts the broken needle festival (針祭, Hari-kuyō matsuri). , but the shrine is best known for its March 3rd festival, Hina nagashi, during Hina matsuri It is one of many fertility cults linked to Empress Jingū. Deities Okuninushi Sukunahikona no mikoto, a god of medicine, particularly gynecology and childbirth Empress Jingū Awashima-no-Kami (淡島神) , another god specialized in women's illnesses . Hari-kuyō matsuri During the broken needle festival (針祭, Hari-kuyō matsuri), on February 8th, people bring used, rusty or broken needles to the shrine. They are buried under a large rock, after being covered with salt . People do this to thank the needles for being useful. Doll funeral The shrine is famous for the doll funeral ceremony. Anyone can leave their old dolls and leave money to pay for the ceremony People do this to respect the spirits in the dolls. This helps avoid disasters and bad luck In 2011, the shrine did a thousand doll funerals. As a result, several thousand dolls can be seen lined up in the shrine .On March 3rd, people put the dolls on boats and send them out to sea. References