The annual Sechi Festival was held at Jiba in a lively atmosphere from January 5 to 7, drawing some 77,000 people including many pilgrimage groups from all over Japan.<\/p>\n
Each day during the three-day event, the entrance gates were opened at 10:00 A.M.<\/small> Those who had been waiting in line partook of offered sake as they passed through the gates. Proceeding to one of the six festival sites, they were treated to zoni, roasted rice cakes served with greens in a clear broth.<\/p>\n
The rice cakes consumed at the festival were offerings, which had been placed on the four corners of the dais at the Main Sanctuary, where they remained during the first three days of the New Year.<\/p>\n
The festival was supported by some 6,000 people, including Church Headquarters’ staff members, head ministers of directly supervised churches, as well as Shuyoka, high school, and college students.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The annual Sechi Festival was held at Jiba in a lively atmosphere from January 5 to 7, drawing some 77,000 people including many pilgrimage groups from all over Japan. Each day during the three-day event, the entrance gates were opened at 10:00 A.M. Those who had been waiting in line\u2026<\/p>\n