KYOTO--A young woman who will play the heroine of Kyoto’s centuries-old Aoi Festival performed a purification ceremony at a shrine here on May 4, ahead of the festival later this month.

Dressed as an ancient noble lady, Rika Ono, a 23-year-old company employee, who was chosen for the role of Saio-dai, dipped the tips of her fingers in the Mitarashigawa river in the compound of Shimogamojinja shrine in Sakyo Ward.

“ 'Juni-hitoe' was heavier than I had anticipated,” said Ono, the 64th Saio-dai, referring to the layered kimono of a Japanese court lady. “But the water was refreshing. I will focus my mind on the festival now and pass down the festival culture.”

The Aoi Festival, which is scheduled for May 15, is believed to have started about 1,400 years ago to pray for a bountiful harvest. It is one of the three most famous festivals in Kyoto.

Ono and about 500 others in ancient court attire will parade on an 8-kilometer route from the former imperial palace in Kamigyo Ward to Shimogamojinja and then to Kamigamojinja in Kita Ward.

Both Shinto shrines are UNESCO World Heritage sites.