The JAPAN series #1: Experiencing TANABATA 七夕祭り , biggest festival in the Tohoku region

Hello Dear steamians!

In this occasion I'll show you the amazing colors of the famous festival Tanabata here in Sendai, Japan.

The festival started on the 6th of August and lasted until the 8th. My friends and I went out to see the beautiful decorations inside of the shopping galleries.

A little story

The festival of Tanabata is actually inspired by the old chinese legend of the princess and the farmer. Orihime (織姫) was a princess who used to kneat splendid fabrics beside of the river Amanogawa (天の川, which is represented in real life by the Milky Way). She was the daughter of Tentei (天帝), the celestial king. Orihime used to kneat ardously her beautiful fabrics, however, this wasn't leaving her time to meet someone and fall in love. For this reason, she was sad, so her dad introduced her to Hikoboshi (彦星), a farmer who worked on the other side of the Amanogawa river. They instantly fell in love and got married. However, they neglected their duties. Orihime stopped kneatting for her father and Hikoboshi forgot more and more about his cattle which ended up spread all over the sky. Mad, the celestial king separated the lovers on each side of the river. Nut the desesperate Orihime begged her father to let her see her husband one more time. The king, moved by her tears, let them meet once a year on the seventh day of the seventh month with one condition, that Orihime finishes her work by that time. On the first year however they found there wasn't a bridge to cross the river. After Orihime cried and cried, a flock of cranes came and let her use their wings as the bridge, and they promised to come by every year if it's not raining.

It's because of this legend that we see all around the festival crane origamis and beautiful colored fabrics hanging from well put structures.

This was the biggest hanging structure this year!! Filled with thousands of cranes and ending in wishes!

Around 2 million people visit Sendai during this days to enjoy the various activities around downtown. Dances and other cultural activities are held in different spots to where you can get by walk.

Hope you have someday the chance to visit this beautiful city!! Please share so the word spreads and more people get to see this beautidul festival!

Comment, upvote, and let me know what you think!

Best,
Ana