Chinowa kuguri
(wakuguri)

Chinowa-kuguri, which the source of disease and defilement is believed to be eliminated by passing through a circle made of reeds,
is almost the common rite of Nagoshi-no-harae (annual rite of purification/harae) and held at Shinto shrines all over Japan.

Nagoshi-no-harae is held on the last day of the sixth month according to the lunar calendar,
though lots of shrines hold it not on the right day today.
And it also takes different forms in various locals.
(ex. Atsuta Shrine hold Nagoshi-no-harae on June 30th and hold different way of purification insted of ordinal Chinowa-kuguri

***

<The origin of chinowa-kuguri>

On the way of traveling, Susanoo-no-mikoto (one of gods) asked Kotan Shorai, a rich man, to be fixed him up for the night.
but was refused. Then he asked his elder brother Somin Shorai, he fixed him up and gave him the full treatment., though he was poor.
Few years after, Susanoo visited Somin Shorai again and told his family to put a ring made of reed.
In that night, all the people except who put the reed rings were killed by disease.
It is said Susanoo-no- Mikoto told that in case disease sets in, if you say "I am a descendant of Somin Shorai" and put a ring made of reeds,
you will be able to escape from transmission

People pass through the gate made of reed three times like a sign of infinity ∞. (left, right and left again)