Shitennoji Temple

At this rowdy festival held at Shitennoji Temple, hundreds of semi-naked male students scramble to get their hands on religious objects said to bring good luck. This Buddhist event is called Doya Doya—named for 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 a little after 2pm 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.