Bridal Procession in shrine

On beautiful Sunday afternoon at the end of May, I visited Meiji Shrine or Meiji Jingu. This shrine is surrounded by the forest. And it’s so green and quiet that it is hard to believe that it is right behind Harajuku Station which is crowded with many young people. A magnificent wooden torii gate welcomed us.

In the Honden, Main Hall area, I came across the Bridal Procession. We can watch it only in the limited shrines.
This procession is led by Shinto priests and shrine maidens, then bride and groom, parents, relatives and friends follow them. The groom is put up a vermillion colored Japanese washi paper umbrella and her mother takes her hand.

This is the beginning of the wedding ceremony walking toward the Main Hall where deities reside. Same as walking on Virgin Road, this procession means the bride and groom’s long road ahead. The main hall is the place to ask their happy wedding life of “future”. And just walking couple is “present” and their followers are their “past”. These three walk together means to bless the bride and groom’s peaceful life ahead.
They are also blessed by the many worshippers like us in the shrine. It also made me happy.