昨年は中止になった多賀大社の万灯祭が今年は予定通り８月３日から三日間行われました。暗くなって境内いっぱい全国各地から奉納されたおびただしい数の提灯に火が灯ると何とも華やかな心踊る気持ちになります。いつもは午後5時で閉店するカフェもこの期間は夜も営業するため、私は朝のうちに多賀大社へ。奉納した私個人と多賀あさひやの名前の書いた提灯を見つけて「あ、ここにあった！」と一人喜び、その後、森を抜けて山間から昇ってきた朝日を背にできた私のノッポの影にも元気よくご挨拶。稲は順調に生育して稲穂が日毎大きく重たくなっています。
Summer festival called Man-toh-sai (lantern festival) in Taga-taisha which was cancelled last year because of coronavirus, was held this year as scheduled from Aug. 3 to 5. When so many lanterns which were offered by people from all over Japan were lit at night, we were excited and happy. Usually the cafe is closed at 5 p.m., but I decided to have it open during this special event, so I went to Taga-taisha in the morning instead. When I found two small lanterns which I offered for the cafe and myself, I got excited. Then I went through the woods of the shrine. It was just after the sun rose behind the mountains, and I saw the long shadow of myself with the sun behind me. I said "hello!" to the shadow. The rice plants have grown very well and the rice ears are getting bigger day by day.
