宮古島、島尻集落のパーントゥ【ユネスコ無形文化遺産】｜Paantu in Shimajiri village, Miyako Island

宮古島の北部にある島尻集落にて、毎年おこなわれるパーントゥの祭祀。 集落の境界に豚の骨を吊るす、スマッサリにはじまり、ンマリガー（産まれの井戸）と呼ばれる集落の外れにある井戸から、仮面の来訪神3体が出現する。 井戸の底にある泥を塗ると、悪霊を退散させる力があるので、新築の家のお祓いや、大人や子どもの無病息災のご利益があるといいます。 The annual Paantu festival takes place in the Shimajiri settlement in northern Miyako Island. The festival begins with the Sumassari, where pig bones are hung at the settlement's boundary, followed by the emergence of three masked visiting deities from a well called Nmariga (the well of birth) located on the outskirts of the settlement. It is believed that applying the mud from the bottom of the well has the power to ward off evil spirits, making it useful for purifying newly built houses and bringing good health and protection from illness to adults and children.