Naorai (Sacred Communal Feast)
A communal meal shared after a ceremony, eating the food offered to the kami
Naorai is the communal meal held after a Shinto ceremony in which priests and participants share the food and sake that were offered to the kami during the ritual. The word is sometimes interpreted as 'nao-ru' (to return to normal) — after the heightened spiritual state of the ceremony, participants return to ordinary life through the shared meal.
The spiritual significance of naorai lies in the concept of sharing the kami's food. By consuming what was offered to the divine, participants take the kami's blessings into their own bodies, creating a physical bond between human and deity. The communal aspect is equally important — eating together strengthens the social bonds within the shrine community.
In practice, naorai ranges from a few sips of sacred sake (omiki) served in small cups after a brief ceremony to elaborate banquets following major festivals. At neighborhood shrine festivals, the naorai often becomes the social highlight of the event, with community members relaxing together after the formal rituals have concluded.