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The Shinto Kanamara Matsuri:”The Festival of the Steel Phallus (Penis)”

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Photo: rodrigo reyes

Photo: Rodrigo Reyes

Japan, famous for its technological advancements and inventions is also famous for a bizarre festival as it seems so for some. An annual festival held to celebrate PENISES is held each year – and hundreds gather to see enormous phalluses parade the streets.

Shinto Kanamara Matsuri, aka the Festival of the Steel Phallus, sees giant manhood-shaped shrines take over streets in Kawasaki, Japan. Held every year, the event sees visitors coming from far afield to watch parades and chow down on phallus-shaped lollipops.

The event, which started in 1977 at the Kanayama Shrine , celebrates the male appendage and fertility . It is believed to have its roots in the 17th Century, following the gory tale of a sharp-toothed demon who fell in love with a beautiful woman. Spurned by his lady, the demon proceeded to rob her subsequent lovers of their pride and joy in particularly horrific ways.

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It was not until a local blacksmith forged a steel phallus, which broke the demon’s teeth, that it was vanquished forever and the woman was free. The “Festival of the Steel Phallus” was then born and the Kanayama Shrine became renowned as a site for sex workers to pray for protection against STIs .

A major part of the Penis Festival is visiting the huge Iron Dildo that sits in the Kanayama Shrine.

According to legends, in the Edo Period (1603-1868), a sharp-toothed demon inhabiting a woman’s vagina castrated several unfortunate men on their wedding nights.

A local blacksmith came to the rescue by forging an iron dildo to break the demon’s teeth.

A three-foot black steel phallus now sits in the shrine’s courtyard in honour of the Shinto deities of fertility, childbirth and protection from STI’s.

Over the years, sex workers came to treat the shrine as a pilgrimage to seek its powers of protection. The site is also said to aid fertility, and has become popular with the LGBT community.

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Nowadays, it reportedly raises awareness about safe sex practices and raises funds for HIV prevention. It’s not the only penis-celebrating event in Japan’s annual calendar. Hōnen Matsuri is another fertility festival which takes place every spring in Komaki features Shinto priests playing musical instruments, a parade of ceremonially garbed participants, all-you-can-drink sake.

Pride of place is given to a 280 kg, 2.5m-long wooden phallus. The wooden phallus is carried from a shrine called Shinmei Sha – in even-numbered years – on a large hill or from Kumano-sha Shrine – in odd-numbered years – to a shrine called Tagata Jinja.

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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma

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World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.

Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.

During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.

On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”

Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.

Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.

Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”

On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”

The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.

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