Shitennoji Temple, Osaka

In this fascinating festival held at Shitennoji Temple, hundreds of semi-naked men scramble to get their hands on religious objects said to bring good luck. This Buddhist event is called doyadoya – from the sound made by hundreds of stamping feet – and is performed as the closing ceremony of an essential ritual held to bring in the New Year. The real action starts at around 2:30pm when talismans are cast from the beams in the Rokujido Hall. At this point, young men wearing nothing but white loincloths, red headbands, and tabi (traditional Japanese socks) jostle with one another to catch the lucky charms.