Buddhika Weerasinghe: Meotoiwa Ooshimenawahari Ceremony

Sun rise between the 'Meoto-Iwa' or couple rocks and over the sea ahead of the Oshimenawahari ceremony at Futami Okitama Shrine on May 5, 2016 in Ise, Japan. The Oshimenawahari ceremony is held three times a year to exchange the 35 meters long heavy rope made of rice straw that connects the sacred Couple Rock - one small, one big. The Couple Rock serves as a gate to the Okitama Shrine, dedicated to the god Sarutahiko and goddess Ukanomitama from Japanese myth.

@Buddhika weerasinghe

Japanese Shinto shrine priests hang the shimenawa, or the sacred ropes, between the Meotoiwa, or the sacred Couple Rock during the Oshimenawahari ceremony at Futami Okitama Shrine on May 5, 2016 in Ise, Japan. The Oshimenawahari ceremony is held three times a year to exchange the 35 meters long heavy rope made of rice straw that connects the sacred Couple Rock - one small, one big. The Couple Rock serves as a gate to the Okitama Shrine, dedicated to the god Sarutahiko and goddess Ukanomitama from Japanese myth.

A man walks beside the 'Meoto-Iwa' or couple rocks while sun rise between the 'Meoto-Iwa' or couple rocks and over the sea ahead of the Oshimenawahari ceremony at Futami Okitama Shrine on May 5, 2016 in Ise, Japan. The Oshimenawahari ceremony is held three times a year to exchange the 35 meters long heavy rope made of rice straw that connects the sacred Couple Rock - one small, one big. The Couple Rock serves as a gate to the Okitama Shrine, dedicated to the god Sarutahiko and goddess Ukanomitama from Japanese myth

'Meoto-Iwa' or couple rocks pictured ahead of the Oshimenawahari ceremony at Futami Okitama Shrine on May 5, 2016 in Ise, Japan. The Oshimenawahari ceremony is held three times a year to exchange the 35 meters long heavy rope made of rice straw that connects the sacred Couple Rock - one small, one big. The Couple Rock serves as a gate to the Okitama Shrine, dedicated to the god Sarutahiko and goddess Ukanomitama from Japanese myth.

Japanese Shinto shrine priests carry the Shimenawa, Sacred ropes for hang to between God Married Stones during the Oshimenawahari ceremony of Meoto-iwa or the Couple Rock at Futami Okitama Shrine on May 5, 2016 in Ise, Japan. The Oshimenawahari ceremony is held three times a year to exchange the 35 meters long heavy rope made of rice straw that connects the sacred Couple Rock - one small, one big. The Couple Rock serves as a gate to the Okitama Shrine, dedicated to the god Sarutahiko and goddess Ukanomitama from Japanese myth.

People touch shimenawa, or the sacred ropes during the Oshimenawahari ceremony at Futami Okitama Shrine on May 5, 2016 in Ise, Japan. The Oshimenawahari ceremony is held three times a year to exchange the 35 meters long heavy rope made of rice straw that connects the sacred Couple Rock - one small, one big. The Couple Rock serves as a gate to the Okitama Shrine, dedicated to the god Sarutahiko and goddess Ukanomitama from Japanese myth

A Shrine maiden walks as arrive to attend the Oshimenawahari ceremony at Futami Okitama Shrine on May 5, 2016 in Ise, Japan. The Oshimenawahari ceremony is held three times a year to exchange the 35 meters long heavy rope made of rice straw that connects the sacred Couple Rock - one small, one big. The Couple Rock serves as a gate to the Okitama Shrine, dedicated to the god Sarutahiko and goddess Ukanomitama from Japanese myth.

A Shrine priest attends the Oshimenawahari ceremony at Futami Okitama Shrine on May 5, 2016 in Ise, Japan. The Oshimenawahari ceremony is held three times a year to exchange the 35 meters long heavy rope made of rice straw that connects the sacred Couple Rock - one small, one big. The Couple Rock serves as a gate to the Okitama Shrine, dedicated to the god Sarutahiko and goddess Ukanomitama from Japanese myth.

A man prays at Futami Okitama Shrine on May 5, 2016 in Ise, Japan. The Oshimenawahari ceremony is held three times a year to exchange the 35 meters long heavy rope made of rice straw that connects the sacred Couple Rock - one small, one big. The Couple Rock serves as a gate to the Okitama Shrine, dedicated to the god Sarutahiko and goddess Ukanomitama from Japanese myth.

Shimenawa, or the sacred ropes, placed in the shrine ahead the Oshimenawahari ceremony at Futami Okitama Shrine on May 5, 2016 in Ise, Japan. The Oshimenawahari ceremony is held three times a year to exchange the 35 meters long heavy rope made of rice straw that connects the sacred Couple Rock - one small, one big. The Couple Rock serves as a gate to the Okitama Shrine, dedicated to the god Sarutahiko and goddess Ukanomitama from Japanese myth.

Shrine priest holds paper fan and attend the Oshimenawahari ceremony at Futami Okitama Shrine on May 5, 2016 in Ise, Japan. The Oshimenawahari ceremony is held three times a year to exchange the 35 meters long heavy rope made of rice straw that connects the sacred Couple Rock - one small, one big. The Couple Rock serves as a gate to the Okitama Shrine, dedicated to the god Sarutahiko and goddess Ukanomitama from Japanese myth.