(Image source from: Half-naked men vie for sacred sticks in Japan})

As many as 9000 half-naked men were jostling with each other to get a pair of sticks, which are considered to be lucky charm. The men are clad only in loincloths as they participate in the traditional annual battle.

The 500-year-old festival called Hadaka Matsuri is a sacred tradition in Japan that takes place at the Saidaiji Temple in Okayama city.

The wooden sticks are called shingi and are thrown at the crowd by the temple priest. The man who manages to get a shingi and that too upright into a wooden box is believed to be blessed with happiness for the whole year.

The festival starts at midnight, when the lights are turned off, and 20cm-long sticks are thrown to the excited crowd. The priest shout ‘Wasshoi! Wasshoi!’, and the men grapple with one another to get hold of the sacred charms.

The Naked Festival, another name for the event, takes place in February every year on the third Saturday.

(Picture Source: )

(AW: Pratima Tigga)