Unique Festival of Miyako Island, Okinawa “Pantou”

There is an unique festival called “Pantou” in Miyako Island.
In Shimajiri district, the festival is held in early September of the old lunar calendar
but its formal dates are not announced until just before the festival.
In the festival, three masked “gods” appear and visit each house.
What is shocking about it is that the “gods” are entirely covered in mud and
they daub the mud to anybody.

（From a travel reservation website "Tabirai Okinawa")

They show a policeman and tourists no mercy.
What’s worse, the mud has strong smell.
There is no wonder, the mud has cultured in its very own bog,
and the smell is poignant, so even if you wash the clothes, the smell does not wash off.
My guess is that the mud is like compost.

Still it seems like the gods drive away evil spirits so the people of the district are looking forward to appearing the gods around the time of the festival.
Also, this festival “Pantou” was designated an important intangible cultural heritage in 1993.
By the way, this year’s “Pantou” was held the other day on October 6th and 7th,
without any trouble.
I heard that the screams of children echoed throughout the district again this year.

If you have enough courage to join the festival, why don’t you visit it?
Bring a change of clothes! (H.S)