Naki Sumo: Bizarre Japanese Festival

Life

oi-Amrisha

By Amrisha Sharma

Monday, April 30, 2012, 10:18

There are many weird festivals that are practiced since ages. These customs and traditional practices may sound bizarre but even in the 21st century educated people follow them blindly. Recently, Japan's baby crying contest has shown us how bizarre a festival can be.

Naki sumo, the baby crying festival in Japan is a contest where the young toddlers are carried by sumo wrestlers. The wrestlers hold the baby in their hands and observe which baby cries out first. While the baby is crying, the mother of the child prays for the good health of her baby.

The baby who cries out loud and long is selected the winner of the baby crying contest. This 400 year old traditional festival of babies crying and wailing must be an emotional strain for the small babies. Which mother can see their small child crying?

In Naki Sumo, more than 100 babies participate every year. Mothers bring their babies to this bizarre festival to get God's blessings and also fight evil spirits. When the baby is taken by the sumo wrestler, a referee in a traditional black costume and a saint stand beside. The referee records the duration of the wailing and the saint prays for the good health of the baby.

Since generations, Naki Sumo is celebrated with joy and belief that the baby who cries the loudest is the highly blessed child. There is a saying among Japanese people, “Crying baby grows faster”. So, the baby who cries the most is blessed and receives the most blessings from the God and would be healthy!

Although Naki Sumo or the baby crying contest of Japan is held to for the good health of the babies that participate every year, it is no doubt a bizarre festival.