(Movie) Praying for world peace and the nation's welfare at Chōshō-ji Temple's Daikokutōe Festival/Kamakura

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1302110004/

February 11, 2013

At the Daikokutōe Festival, an ascetic ritual is performed in prayer of world peace and Japan's welfare=Chōshō-ji Temple, Kamakura

Wearing only a shimekomi (also called a fundoshi), monks cover themselves in freezing water while chanting a sutra, in prayer of world peace and Japan's welfare during the Daikokutōe Festival. It was held on the 11th at the Chōshō-ji Temple of Zaimokuza, Kamakura City.

For 100 days, from November until the arrival of the festival, the ascetic monks endured the practice of slurping on nothing but rice porridge day and night. Besides being forbidden from trimming their hair and beards, they weren't even allowed to clip their nails. Leading up to the festival, each day was spent dousing themselves in freezing water, wrapped only in white robes.

Original text:
【動画】世界平和と国の安泰を祈願、長勝寺で「大国祷会」/鎌倉
2013年2月11日

世界平和と国の安泰を祈願する荒行「大国祷会」＝鎌倉・長勝寺

経文を唱えながら締め込み一つで冷水をかぶり、世界平和と国の安泰を祈願する荒行「大国祷会」が11日、鎌倉市材木座の長勝寺で行われた。

修行僧らは昨年11月から１００日間、朝晩に粥（かゆ）をすするだけの苦行に耐え、この日を迎えた。髪やひげ、爪さえも切ることが許されず、白装束をまとい冷水をかぶる日々を送ってきた。