The splendor of the Heian period imperial court comes to life every May 15 in Kyoto's annual Aoi or Hollyhock spring procession from the imperial palace. The 6th century parade and performance of Shinto rituals at the Kamo shrines is meant to appease the deities for a bountiful harvest and is preceeded on May 3 and 4 by rituals of horseback archery and purification of an imperial priestess.