The purpose and meaning are diversified because some feasts are held for 'the productiveness of grain' for good harvests, and a prayer for good luck charm and prayer for warding off evil such as 'good catch and memorial service,' 'prosperous trade,' 'an attempt to secure protection from a plague,' 'state of perfect health,' 'safety of one's family,' 'peace and longevity,' 'harmonious marriage,' 'fertility and family prosperity,' 'ancestor worship,' 'abundance and joy to all people,' 'universal peace' and so on, some are held in appreciation for accomplishments of such prayers, some are held as a result of development of annual events such as Sekku and so on, or some are held to console spirits of great people.
その目的や意義は、豊作の「五穀豊穣」を始め、「大漁追福」、「商売繁盛」、「疫病退散」、「無病息災」、「家内安全」、「安寧長寿」、「夫婦円満」、「子孫繁栄」、「祖先崇拝」、「豊楽万民」、「天下泰平」などを招福祈願、厄除祈念として行われるもの、またはそれらの成就に感謝して行われるもの、節句などの年中行事が発展して行われているもの、偉人の霊を慰めるために行われるものなど様々である。