Horse festival held in northern Japan

IWATE, Japan - Some 100 decorated horses are led along a road lined by irises in an annual horse festival in Iwate Prefecture on June 9. The festival, called Chagu-chagu Umakko (horses with ringing bells) originated in the Edo Period (1603-1867) as a way to express gratitude to horses used for agriculture and to pray for good health and no disasters.