The second procession consists of attendants carrying a box of artifact offerings for the gods, figures on horseback, and the Imperial emissary’s palanquin.

Leading the procession are figures shaking plum tree branches to purify the way. Their role is to protect the three artifact offerings they carry. Why three? Because Shimogamo enshrines two gods, and Kamigamo enshrines one god, making three in total. In the box there are beautiful, silken fabrics in five colors – the gods’ celestial raiment.

The horses that follow them are also celestial offerings. Japanese shrines have “ema,” wooden prayer tablets with drawings of horses on them. They are remnants of a time when horses were precious offerings to the gods.

By the way, the participants’ heads are decorated with wild ginger leaves. Why is that? The official name of this festival is actually “Kamosai” – Kamo Festival. It came to be known as the Aoi Festival because of these decorations, as “aoi” means “wild ginger,” or “hollyhock” in Japanese. Wild ginger has long been the symbol of Kamo Shrine; an old rendering of the word “aoi” carried divine connotations as well. This makes the wild ginger plant the link between mankind and the gods on the day of the festival – the day where they meet face to face at last.

Trailing the procession is an ox-drawn cart bedecked with vivid flowers. This is the Imperial emissary’s carriage. His attendants march alongside, helping the carriage along and standing by in case it needs repairs. Additionally, they are there to take over pulling duties for the ox when it needs rest.