Uneme Festival boats circle Sarusawa Pond under harvest moon in Japan's Nara

NARA -- The annual Uneme Festival unfolded around Sarusawa Pond in the ancient Japanese capital on the night of September 25, under a harvest moon. Despite clouds obscuring much of the sky, the moon made a brief reappearance, seemingly timed to coincide with the festivities. Traditional court music echoed through the air as two intricately adorned boats glided around the pond.

One of these vessels bore a 2-meter-long floral fan, lavishly adorned with autumn flowers and grasses. A large assembly gathered to marvel at this historical spectacle on the water's surface. Organized by Uneme Shrine by the pond, this event drew inspiration from a legend from the Nara period (710-784) - the tale of an uneme, or court lady who served the emperor, who took her own life out of heartbreak over his waning affection for her.

The custom of placing festival boats on the pond started after World War II. The festival's current format, which includes a procession through the city, was established after Nara and Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture city, with their own legend about the court lady, became sister cities in 1971. Approximately 200 individuals dressed in Nara period costumes paraded through central Nara before presenting the floral fan as an offering at Uneme Shrine.

Finally, at the conclusion of the festival, the fan was tossed into the pond from one of the boats as participants prayed for the peace of the court lady's soul and the well-being of all.