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Also known as the Japanese Doll Festival, Hinamatsuri or Girl’s Day is done every third day of March. There are platforms used with a red cloth where ornamental dolls are displayed. The dolls represent the Emperor, Empress, attendants and the musicians in a traditional court dress of the Heian period.

In the first platform, two dolls which represent the emperor and the empress are placed. These dolls are put in front of a miniature gold folding screen. The three court ladies are placed in the second platform where every lady holds a sake-filler. On the third platform, the three five male musicians are placed. Each musician has a musical instrument not including the singer who usually holds a fan. On the lower platforms, various furniture, carriages, tools and many other more are placed.

The festival for the dolls traces its origins to the ancient Japanese custom which is known as Hina-nagashi where straw hina dolls are set afloat on a boat and are sent down a river to the sea where people aim to take troubles and bad spirits with them.

hinamatsuri, japan, festival