The world is moving very fast and women and men are now getting equal opportunities. People believe that what men can do, women can also do. Where there is talk of equality, many types of arguments are given, but if it is a matter of custom, then all the arguments fail. In the matter of customs, people directly follow only those things which have been understood to be correct for years. For example, there are many religious places in the world where women are prohibited. In India too, such controversies have arisen regarding the Sabarimala temple.
One such place is also in Japan which has been made a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This is the whole island of Pura where women are not allowed to go and here the customs of the Shinto religion are followed. The location of this island is such that it is closer to Korea but still comes under the border of Japan.
Men have to do this work before going here
Women are not allowed to visit this island under any circumstances, but men also have to follow a custom to come to this place. Before coming here, they have to bathe in the water of Korea Strait and for that, they have to be completely naked. They can step on this island only after taking a bath.
After that, they have to go and take care of many things and pray.
Why this island is considered sacred?
This island is considered a religious place of Shinto religion. It houses a 17th-century temple and according to legend, prayers were offered here for the safety of sailors. The Okitsu shrine is built here and there is a special rule of worship here.
Once they have to take a bath before coming to the island and after that, they have to leave the island in a certain way after coming inside and worshipping. They cannot take anything from here nor can they tell their experience to anyone.
Reports believe that thousands of artefacts, gold-silver, idols etc. have been kept on this island, but it is forbidden to take anything out of there.
This island opens on the same day every year
Every year 200 people are selected to go to this island and according to the BBC report, worship is done here only on 27th of May. All men have to pray following all the mythological rules. According to thousands of years old beliefs, women are forbidden to come here because it is considered a dangerous place. It is considered a way of protection rather than discrimination and the priest here says that he cannot change the thousand-year-old tradition now.
One of the reasons why women do not come to this island is the custom here, under which people coming here have to take off their full clothes and first take a bath in seawater (Korea Strait).
