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Each year in December/January an event called the “Daruma Market” (Daruma Ichi) is held in a few locations across Japan, but mainly in Takasaki.
The Daruma Doll (達磨), is also known as a Dharma doll. The Doll is hollow and round, and is a Japanese doll modelled after Bodhidharma who was a Buddhist Monk who lived between the 5th and 6th century AD.
The Daruma Doll ranges in colours in different regions, but is usually red depicting a bearded man called “Dharma”.
Ome Daruma Market by Gabi Greve on Flickr
The Daruma is seen as an item to bring good luck, and is a popular gift. Each year a celebration takes place in Takasaki city, which is located in the Gunma Region, which is seen as a birthplace of the Daruma Doll. The Shorinzan Daruma Temple hosts Japans most famous Daruma Market, which is held on the 6th and 7th of January.
Daruma dolls are usually bought at the start of each New Year without the pupils painted on the Daruma Doll. A wish is made and then a pupil is painted onto the doll. If this wish comes true, another pupil is added, then the doll is returned to shrine at the end of the year to be burned.
Burning of the Daruma Dolls in Ome by Gabi Greve on Flickr
These markets as also held in Odawara (Dec 16th/17th), Jindaiji Tokyo (March 3/4th), Fukushima Shirakawa Station (Feb 11th), Ome (12th Jan).
This post is a part of the J-Festa January 2012 blog carnival. To join in check out the guidelines.
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