10,000 come for lucky beans at the Setsubun Festival of Daishi, Kawasaki

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1202030046/

February 3rd, 2012

Caption: Temple visitors grasp for lucky beans= The Heikenji Temple of Kawasaki Daishi, Kawasaki Ward, Kawasaki City

On the 3rd day of the Setsubun Festival, at the Heikenji temple of Kawasaki Daishi, Kawasaki Ward, Kawasaki City, the annual bean scattering tradition was held. Bean throwing events took place 3 times over the morning and afternoon,  where 10,000 visitors grasped for the lucky beans with all of their might.

50,000 bags of beans were prepared, literally weighing a ton altogether. Within the temple grounds, atop a specially built platform, men and women born to the dragon zodiac and dressed in kamishimo played taiko drums, to the chanting of "Fortune is within, Fortune is within".  Gathered below the stage, visitors eagerly sought to capture beans from the air.

Original text
節分：福豆求め１万人、川崎大師
2012年2月3日

福豆を求める参詣者＝川崎市川崎区の川崎大師平間寺

節分の３日、川崎市川崎区の川崎大師平間寺で、毎年恒例の豆まき式が行われた。午前と午後に計３回行われ、約１万人の参詣者が福豆を求めて懸命に手を伸ばした。

 用意された豆は５万袋（約１トン）。境内につくられた特設舞台から裃（かみしも）姿の年男年女らが太鼓の音とともに「福は内、福は内」と元気よく掛け声を響かせ、舞台下に集まった人たち目掛けて勢いよく豆を放り投げた。