令和捌年 下鴨神社「えと祈願祭」 “Eto Kigansai Festival” at Shimogamo Shrine 2026

令和捌年　下鴨神社「えと祈願祭」

陪臚
Bairo

令和捌年（2026年）9月25日は京都府京都市左京区にある加茂御祖神社（通称 下鴨神社）に「えと祈願祭｣に参列のため伺いました。京阪電鉄　出町柳駅から約徒歩5分　社叢林　糺の森を抜けた先に神社があります。

私は今回「一般財団法人　世界遺産下鴨神社崇敬会」会員として参列いたしました。

えと祈願祭
Eto Kigansai Festival

午後１時から中門に於いてえと祈願祭が行われました。

続いて、舞殿にて加茂神社（富山県射水市）の国指定重要無形民俗文化財「稚児舞」が奉納されました。

加茂神社は治歴2年（1066年）に下鴨神社の御神領越中国倉垣荘の総社として創建されたものです。

加古の舞
Kako no Mai Dance

加茂神社の説明資料から引用いたします～この度奉納させていただく稚児舞は、秋季例祭として神様に五穀豊穣を感謝し、毎年9月3日・4日（宵祭り・本祭り）に御神前で舞われるものです。稚児は地元の小学生から男児4名が選ばれ、身長順に大稚児2名・小稚児2名に分けられます。加茂神社で奉納される舞は1人舞１曲、２人舞5曲、4人舞3曲の計９曲です。

天の舞
Ama no Mai Dance

約1,300年前の化粧法が受け継がれている点や当日は神事に関わる時間（錬行から最後の舞が終わるまで）は稚児たちが土を踏むことを禁忌（穢れの禁忌）としている風習の文化的価値が評価されています。

胡蝶の舞
Kocho no Mai Dance

また、曲ごとに衣装が異なっており、子どもの愛らしさや舞の華やかさ・荘厳さが表現されています。～とあります。

舞で曲に合わせて歌われる歌詞や舞の所作にとても特徴があり、内容を含めて知りたいことが沢山増えました。

当日加茂神社の宮司様とご挨拶が叶いましたので機会がありましたら現地で直接拝見したいです。

下鴨神社、祭り関係者、そして、参加者の皆様ありがとうございました。

 

撮影機材: Ricoh GR

編集ソフトウェア: Adwaa Silkypix Developer Studio Pro 11

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掲載内容の更新日2026年10月28日

“Eto Kigansai Festival” at Shimogamo Shrine 2026

 

It went to attending to “Eto Kigansai Festival” to Shimogamo Shrine located at the Kyoto Prefecture Kyoto City Sakyo ward at the 18th October 2026, and that is located about 5 minutes from Keihan Railway Demachiyanagi station pass away Tadasu Forest.

楼門
Tower Gate

This time, I went to attending as a member of Shimogamo Shrine Supporters Association.

The "Eto Kigansai Festival" was held at the "Chumon (Middle Gate)" starting at 1:00 pm.

Next, Chigo-mai (Traditional Children's Dance) of Kamo Shrine (in Imizu City, Toyama Prefecture) as the as a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property have dedicated at the "Buden (Ceremonial Dance Stage)".

Kamo Shrine was founded in the second year of the Jireki era (1066) as the "Sosha (principal shrine)" for Kuragaki-no-sho in Etchu Province—a territory under the jurisdiction of Shimogamo Shrine.

加古の舞
Kako no Mai Dance

The following is an excerpt from an explanatory document prepared by Kamo Shrine. ～The "Chigo-mai (Traditional Children's Dance) ” being offered here is dedicated during the annual autumn festival—held each year on September 3rd and 4th (the eve festival and the main festival)—as an expression of gratitude for an abundant harvest. Four boys are selected from local elementary school students to serve as "Chigo (Ceremonial child participants)"; they are then divided into two "O-chigo (Tall Boy)" and two "Ko-Chigo (Short Boy)" based on their height. The dances dedicate at Kamo Shrine consist of a total of nine dance: one solo dance, five duets, and three dance for four boys.

The fact that makeup practices from approximately 1,300 years ago have been passed down to the present day, and during the event, it is considered a taboo (a prohibition to avoid ritual impurity) for the "Chigo (Ceremonial child participants)" to let their feet touch the ground throughout the duration of the sacred rites—from the "Rengyo (ceremonial procession)" until the final dance concludes, so that the festival’s cultural value is highly regarded. ～ rest omitted.

胡蝶の舞
Kocho no Mai Dance

The lyrics sung to the accompaniment of the dance, as well as the dance movements themselves, are highly distinctive; this has piqued my curiosity and left me wanting to learn much more about the performance and its underlying meaning.

胡蝶の舞
Kocho no Mai Dance

I also had the pleasure of meeting the Shinto head priest of Kamo Shrine that day, and I truly hope to have the opportunity to witness the dedicate dance in person at the shrine itself.

I thank you for everyone of this festival.

 

Equipment: Ricoh GR

Software: Adwaa Silkypix Developer Studio Pro 11

 

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This page was last modified: October 28, 2026