Arriving at Suitengu, there was a line of worshippers leading up to the shrine

Worshippers at Suitengu Shrine — Worshippers waiting their turn at Suitengu

When people are waiting for their turn to pray at a Shinto shrine, they often end up paying their respects at the same time as strangers. I wondered why so many people avoided the same timing. Since they are deities beyond human understanding, they should be able to hear the requests of many people at the same time. Nevertheless, I feel that people who visit the shrine avoid visiting with strangers at the same time. Unless it is very crowded, such as the first visit of the year to the shrine, people don't pray with strangers at the same time. I don't know the reason for this, but I tend to shift my timing a bit. I wonder if it's because worshippers feel that the person standing next to them will know what they want even if they don't say it out loud. Or perhaps they want the deities to listen only to their wishes.

Either way, if the worshippers are not paying their respects at the same time as others, a line will soon form in front of the shrine. Such was the case with Suitengu Shrine on this day. Even though the precincts of the shrine were not crowded, there was a line of worshippers. Since this was Japan, no one complained and waited quietly for their turn to come, but I wonder what would happen in Egypt or India, where people are less conscious of waiting in line. I would like to see a situation like that.

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