Naked Man Festival in Urasa!!

This is one of the craziest things I have ever done in my life.

Naked Man festival is very unique and is not known to the urban people in Japan.Urasa is popular for its ski resorts and naked man is one of the special matsuris (festivals) of Urasa.

IUJ had a team of around 15 students who participated in the festival.All the participants have to wear a small piece of cloth with 70% of the body naked.Then we were asked to march into the temple in groups of 4 shouting 'sanyo se!''sanyo se!'.Once they allow a group into the temple, you will have to jump into cold water kept at a corner immerse yourself in, then run towards the main shrine.There is already a huge crowd of local people (most of them fully drunk!).

Now, we have to push each other and try to sneak into the human wall guarding the main Idol (God).People just keep pushing from every corner and it is just crazy.Then suddenly a group of young guys carrying huge candles just push through the crowd and the wax just falls on everyone.Ricky's hair got burnt and it is really crazy!!

I was advised by some of my japanese friends to stay behind and not to venture into the push and pull exercise.Initially, I was staying behind with kaushank and satoru-san but later was asking myself "Did'nt I travel by train back home in Bombay? Wasn'it million times crazier than this? ". I attained enlightenment.....jumped into the crowd.......sneaked through the human wall and came out again only to realise that you have to pray the god inside.I jumped in again and managed to pray to god this time and it was indeed good.

Afer posing for pictures with Bryan,Nicola and Kung, we headed to the dressing room.We had some sake,the traditional japanese alcohol.Then, we walked through the streets of Urasa, enjoying the festival atmosphere, trying out octopus, chicken kushi and many many tabemono.....

It is one event which should not be missed if you happen to be in this area.......