Hana Matsuri festival
Hana – Matsuri (花祭, Flower Festival) is the name of a series of flower festivals in Japan.
But now this is the name given to the Buddhist festival because it coincides with Buddha's birthday on April 8 (Kanbutsue), also known as the Flower Buddha Party. This big festival is held every year, called Hana Matsuri
Every year, April 8 has many events celebrated to celebrate the birth of Shakyamuni Buddha. This historical event is known as Hana Matsuri (literally flower day). During this festival people gather at religious facilities throughout the day of April 8. Flowers are used to commemorate and sprinkle them on small Buddha statues with amacha, which is a type of herbal tea.
Small buildings are all decorated with flowers and a large painting is often placed in the main shrine. Tea is served to visitors from 10pm to 3pm, and many locals return to the same temple every year. Local elementary school students also come here to water and pray together.
Depending on where you are, it is not necessary to gather in a certain place. Festivals take place at all temples because this is where the Buddha resides. Many shrines want to carry out this sacred mission and message. Senso-ji in Tokyo's Asakusa district is home to the biggest festival followed by Ginkakuji and Nanzenji shrines.
On this day, small shrine buildings decorated with flowers are erected and a small statue of tanjo butsu is placed inside. This figurine is sprinkled by worshipers in a pot with ama-cha, a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in hot water. Some people believe that taking ama-cha and drinking it as holy water will provide protection through life's difficulties.
Some people even brought back some Amacha houses. During the holiday, processions descend on decorated streets and a man carries flowers representing Buddha to plant them to pray and ward off evil spirits.
Another variation of this event at Sensoji Temple is called Bussho-e (仏 生 ) or Kanbutsu-e (灌 仏 ). Visitors will pour ama-cha on a small statue of the Buddha but in front of the Five-Storied Pagoda according to legend that when the Buddha was born nine dragons descended from the sky and shaded a house and this ritual Born like a painting depicting the birth of Buddha is placed in the main hall, and visitors are served free ama-cha from 10am to 3pm. There is a small parade at 10 am to place the Buddha statue in the main hall, and many girls come to the event wearing kimono.
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