“Modi, you are a winner,” says Jokoryu Takayuki, Japanese Sumo wrestler

Japanese Sumo Wrestler Jokoryu Takayuki greeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his 75th birthday and performed the Shiomaki ritual to ward off evil spirits and strengthen him, the Indian Minorities Foundation (IMF) said in a post on X.

As part of ‘Vishwa Sewa Pakhwada,’ Jokoryu Takayuki, the youngest Japanese Sumo wrestler, performed the famous Shiomaki ritual in the Sumo wrestling ring in Tokyo, throwing salt as part of the ceremony. According to the IMF, the ritual, deeply rooted in Shinto beliefs, serves both spiritual purification and the purpose of warding off evil spirits.

“Modi; you are a winner; I am also a winner. We both win battles,” said Jokoryu Takayuki while extending his greetings.

The IMF noted that the Shiomaki ritual was organised as part of the Vishwa Sewa Pakhwada i