#Hotel Kuki in #Kuki City, Saitama Prefecture.
On August 23rd, we went to "Ryutozan Eifukuji Temple," a Shogakuji temple in Sugito-cho.
Every year, for two days on August 22 and 23, the temple conducts a large "Segaki" service to offer offerings to ancestors regardless of religion or denomination.
There are three major offerings in the Kanto area, known as the "three major offerings. They are the Dojo Shigaki at Eifukuji Temple in Sugito, the Kawa Shigaki at Shimanbuji Temple in Chichibu, and the Daisegaki at Tamakurain Temple in Saitama City.
I have participated in the Dojo Shigaki. It is said that there is a custom to have people chant sutras and release loach into a pond on the temple grounds in order to make offerings to those who have fallen into hell due to killing or other evil deeds during their lives.
Finally, I also participated in the Dasegaki (two-stage Buddhist memorial service).
On the day of the big festival, many monks gather at the main hall of the temple to perform the Shogaku Buddhist memorial service. The sound of many monks reciting the sutras in a solemn hall filled my heart and purified my mind.
If you are interested in this event, please join us next year, although this year's event has already ended.
