Giant snake made of straw and bamboo paraded in Niigata festival

A snake over 80 meters long made of bamboo and straw was paraded through a village in the Japanese prefecture of Niigata on Sunday. The procession took place in Sekikawa Village as part of a festival held every August. The figure chosen to commemorate a water-related disaster that struck on August 28, 1967. This year, the serpent was rebuilt for the first time in eight years after showing signs of wear. It now weighs about 2 tons.