天神祭
7月２４・２５日は天神祭。
大阪天満宮の天神祭案内によると、「天神祭は、天暦５年（951年）に社頭の浜から神鉾を流し、流れ着いた浜に斎場を設け、「みそぎ」
を行いました。その折、神領民や崇敬者が船を仕立てて奉迎したのが天神祭の始まれとされ、１千年の歴史を誇っています。」とある。
ここで云う社頭の浜が、弊社の直ぐ南側、裁判所の前に当たり、そこに鉾流し橋と呼ばれる橋がある。
実はこの橋の袂から船を出し、神鉾を流すのが天神祭りの最初の神事である。
最近は観光的な意味あいもあって23日にギャル神輿が賑やかに繰り出されるが、正規の天神祭のはじまりは神鉾流し神事で始まる。
そして、24日は宵宮祭、自動車渡御、催太鼓、獅子舞氏地巡行が行われ、25日が本宮で、神霊移御、陸渡御、船渡御、奉納花火と続く。
なかでも勇壮なのが船渡御と奉納花火で、今夕方から中之島から東の大川端周辺は何十万人と云う人で埋まる。
ところが、私はこの祭の中心地、西天満に会社を構えながらじっくりと祭り見物をした事がない。
本宮の日は人ごみを避けて北新地方面に逃げるか、人ごみを掻き分けながら北浜駅に向かい帰途に着くのかが常であった。
ところが今年は親友の東田社長が、お互いに所属する船場ロータリークラブの親睦委員長に就任した関係で、お祭男の本領を発揮、
「天神祭と花火の会」を企画してくれた。大林ビルの２９階で食事を楽しみながら、船渡御と花火を観ようという素晴らしい企画である。
今日は、日頃の憂さを花火を観ながらパッと散らすことにする。
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July 24 and 25 will be the Tenjin Festival.
According to the guide to Tenjin Matsuri of Osaka Tenmangu Shrine, “The Tenjin Matsuri was held in 951 (Tenryaku 5), when the floats were floated from the beach of the head of the shrine and a shrine hall was set up on the beach where the floats arrived, and the ceremony was called ‘Misogi’.
We did. It is said that the beginning of the Tenjin Festival was when the god lord’s people and worshippers prepared a boat and delivered it to the shrine, and it has a history of 1,000 years. It says.
The beach at the head of the company is on the south side of our company, in front of the courthouse, and there is a bridge called Hoko-nagashi bridge.
In fact, the first ritual of the Tenjin Festival is to send out a boat from the side of this bridge and float the floats.
The regular Tenjin Festival begins with the Shinboko Nagashi ritual.
On the 24th, there will be the Yoimiya Festival, a car cruise, taiko drumming, and the Shishimai Festival, and on the 25th, the main shrine will be the site of the Shinto Spirit Transfer, a land cruise, a boat cruise, and fireworks.
From this evening, the area from Nakanoshima to the east around Okawabata will be filled with hundreds of thousands of people.
However, I’ve never been able to watch the festival in detail while working at my office in the center of the festival, Nishitenma.
On Hongu day, there was always a choice between escaping to Kitashinchi to avoid the crowds, or heading to Kitahama station to get back home while sweeping through the crowds.
This year, however, my good friend, President Higashida, became the chairman of the fellowship committee of the Funaba Rotary Club, to which we both belong.
He organized the “Tenjin Festival and Fireworks Party. It was a great idea to enjoy a meal on the 29th floor of the Obayashi Building while watching the boat cruise and fireworks.
Today, I’m taking a break from my daily melancholy by watching fireworks.
