The origin of the Chawan Festival, a major festival at Niu Shrine, is said to be the dedication of pottery to the shrine in gratitude to the god who gave them excellent clay and skills, since good quality pottery clay could be mined in this area. In this festival, three floats are decorated with decorations made of ceramic pieces joined together, and the floats are about 10 meters high. The techniques for making the floats are considered a secret, and are handed down orally only to selected artisans. The traditional beauty of the floats has been passed down from parents to children and from children to grandchildren. The dance of the children, the hanagasa dance, and the procession of the portable shrines are all performed in the traditional manner, and are designated as Intangible Folk Cultural Assets of Shiga Prefecture.