Dozens of people endured frigid temperatures at an annual Kanchu-Misogi festival at a shrine in Tokyo this past weekend.

Men wearing the traditional ‘fundoshi’ or loincloth pray as they bathe in ice-cold water at the Teppozu Inari shrine in Tokyo, Japan, on 10 January, reported Reuters.

Women too bathe at Teppozu Inari shrine praying to their gods for good health and safe family life this year.

Most of Japanese visit shrines or temples on New Year to purify their life and pray for good.

Some people prepare by stretching and exercising before entering the icy water.

To stabilize the temperature of water in the bath high school students clutched large blocks of ice in the water.