Jan 10 (Ruptly) - A dozen people participated in a Shinto ritual whereby they bathed in icy waters at Teppou-zu Inari Shrine in Tokyo on Sunday to pray for the end of the pandemic.
Three women dressed in robes, and nine men covered in loin clothes chanted and clapped before taking the icy dip.
"I hope that soon the world and coronavirus pandemic calm down and everyone will be able to move freely," said a participant Yoshiko Shibada after the 'Misogi' ritual which refers to the Shinto tradition of washing the whole body for purification.
The event which is held on the second Sunday of each year had the added them of 'warding off epidemics' this year.
