At this time, it was the season of the Kamo festival (the Aoi (Hollyhock) Festival, in the fourth month (old calendar)), and taking the advice of the people around her she went to watch the purification ceremony performed by the Saiin (Imperial Princess appointed to serve the deities of the Kamo-jinja Shrines).
折りしも時は賀茂祭（葵祭、4月(旧暦)）、周囲に勧められるままに斎院の御禊の見物に行った。