Harae

[2] Harae often involves symbolic washing with water, or having a Shinto priest shake a large paper shaker called ōnusa or haraegushi over the object of purification.

[5] In all Shinto religious ceremonies, harae is performed in the beginning of the ritual to cleanse any evil, pollution or sins away before anyone gives offerings to the kami.

Often, water and salt are used for the ceremonies to rinse hands and the face, as well as the shrine before it is prepared with offerings of goods and food.

[7] Another method used to perform harae is misogi, in which a participant stands under a cold waterfall while chanting a liturgy.

[9] Shubatsu (修祓), a cleansing ritual performed by sprinkling salt, is another practice of the Shinto religion.

[9] A significant and visible form of this ritual is when sumo wrestlers sprinkle salt around the fighting ring before a match, to purify the area.