Alcohol is the most important offering presented to the gods. The act of brewing alcohol for ritual ceremonies is called Shinju-bitgi (brewing sacred alcohol), and the Gangneung Danoje Festival begins each year on April 5th of the lunar calendar with the brewing of this sacred alcohol.

The citizens of Gangneung donate Shinjumi (sacred rice) for the Gangneung Danoje Festival, which is then used to brew the sacred alcohol. The Shinju is brewed at Chilsadang, a government office during the Joseon Dynasty. A geumjul (sacred straw rope) is hung a week before the brewing begins, and on the day of the brewing, a shaman performs a ritual to ward off impure energies.

The ritual officials cleanse their bodies, dress in ceremonial attire, and place a piece of hanji (traditional Korean paper) in their mouths as they prepare to brew the alcohol. This signifies their devotion to brewing the alcohol with the utmost sincerity and purity for the gods.

The Daegwallyeong Sansinje is a Confucian-style ritual held at the Sansindang (Mountain God Shrine) located on Daegwallyeong Pass, and the mountain god enshrined here is General Kim Yu-sin.

Since ancient times, Daegwallyeong has been a mountain that protects the Yeongdong region, including Gangneung, and served as a vital transportation route connecting the Yeongdong and Yeongseo regions. Our ancestors held rituals for the mountain god of Daegwallyeong to ensure safe passage across the treacherous pass.

By tradition, the role of Choheongwan (the chief ritual official who offers the first cup of alcohol) is passed down to be filled by the Director General of the Eastern Regional Office of Aviation and Forest Service, who oversees the forests of Daegwallyeong.

The Daegwallyeong Guksa Seonghwangje is a Confucian-style ritual held at the Seonghwangsa (Guardian Deity Shrine) on Daegwallyeong Pass, and the Seonghwangsin (guardian deity) enshrined here is State Preceptor Beomil (Beomil Guksa).

Since the Daegwallyeong Guksa Seonghwangsin is the main deity of the Gangneung Danoje Festival, it is a long-standing tradition for the Mayor of Gangneung, representing the citizens, to serve as the Choheongwan (the chief ritual official who offers the first cup of alcohol).

Once the Confucian ritual at Seonghwangsa concludes, a shaman performs a ritual to cleanse impurities and welcome the Daegwallyeong Guksa Seonghwangsin. Following this, the shaman's entourage and the sinmokjabi (sacred tree bearer) climb higher up the mountain to claim the sinmok (sacred tree), which is a maple tree, and bring it down.

The front yard of Seonghwangsa bustles with people making wishes and hanging five-colored ribbons on the sacred tree to the vibrant sounds of traditional folk music.

The Gusan Seonangje is a village guardian deity ritual held in Gusan Village to welcome the Daegwallyeong Guksa Seonghwangsin, following the completion of the prior rituals for the Daegwallyeong mountain god and the state preceptor guardian deity.

It is said that in the past, by the time the procession descending from Daegwallyeong Pass reached the Gusan Seonangdang (Village Guardian Shrine), darkness would fall, forcing them to light torches to illuminate their path.

Today, the procession arrives around lunchtime. Each year, the residents of Gusan Village prepare and serve bibimbap for lunch to the citizens participating in the procession as they make their way down from Daegwallyeong.

The Haksan Seonangje is a village guardian deity ritual held in Haksan Village, the birthplace of State Preceptor Beomil (Beomil Guksa), who is revered as the Daegwallyeong Guksa Seonghwangsin.

Haksan Village is home to Seokcheon (a stone spring) and Hakbawi (Crane Rock), both of which are deeply tied to the birth mythology of State Preceptor Beomil. Upon visiting his hometown, the Guksa Seonghwangsin (State Preceptor Guardian Deity) is received with a grand welcome and hospitality by the residents of Haksan Village.

The Bonganandje is a ritual dedicated to the guardian deity couple, held at the Daegwallyeong Guksa Yeoseonghwangsa (Female Guardian Deity Shrine) to enshrine the sinmok (sacred tree) of the Guksa Seonghwangsin brought down from Daegwallyeong.

April 15th of the lunar calendar-the day the Guksa Seonghwangsin ordered a tiger to bring Miss Jeong to him for their matrimony-is recognized as the wedding day of the Guksa Seonghwangsin and Miss Jeong. Accordingly, the divine couple is enshrined together at this location until the Yeongsinje (Welcoming Ritual).

The Yeongsinje is a ritual held to escort the Guksa Seonghwangsin and Guksa Yeoseonghwangsin, who have been enshrined at the Daegwallyeong Guksa Yeoseonghwangsa, to the gutdang—a temporary ritual altar set up at the Danoje festival grounds along the Namdaecheon Stream in Gangneung.

Led by the sinmok (sacred tree), the procession of ritual officials, shamans, the Gwanno Mask Dance troupe, and traditional farmers' music bands follows behind, heightening the festive spirit. Thousands of citizens create a vibrant festival atmosphere as they follow the procession holding Dano lanterns.

When the divine spirit tablets and the sacred tree arrive at the festival altar, the festival officially begins with a fireworks display, reaching its climax as everyone in attendance celebrates the welcoming of the deities.

The Jojeonje is a Confucian-style ritual performed every morning at the gutdang—the temporary ritual altar set up within the Danoje festival grounds where the Gangneung Danoje Festival takes place.

From May 4th to the 8th of the lunar calendar, the heads of various institutions and organizations in Gangneung City serve as ritual officials (heongwan) to offer the ceremonial rites.

Esteemed and respected figures from the Gangneung region are appointed as ritual officials, and they participate in the ceremony to pray for the peace and well-being of the Gangneung area, a bountiful harvest, a rich catch of fish, and the prosperity of their respective organizations. Once the ritual concludes, the ritual officials and the people gathered at the altar share and partake in the ceremonial food together.

The Danogut is a ritual that prays for the peace of the Yeongdong region and the prosperity of its people's livelihoods by sequentially welcoming various deities revered in shamanism.

As the core of the Gangneung Danoje Festival, a shaman hosts the sinmok (sacred tree) brought down from Daegwallyeong and performs more than 20 different shamanic rituals over the course of five days.

Songsin-je is the concluding ritual of the Gangneung Danoje, a ceremony to bid farewell and send the two National Preceptor Guardian Deities back to their original dwellings.

This ritual marks the completion of the Gangneung Danoje, an extensive journey spanning approximately 40 days. The festival begins with the brewing of the sacred liquor (Sinju-bitgi) and progresses through the Mountain Spirit Ritual (Sanshin-je), the Seonghwang Ritual (Seonghwang-je), the Enshrinement Ritual (Bongan-je), the Welcoming Ritual (Yeongshin-je), the Welcoming Procession (Yeongshin-haengcha), and five days of morning rituals (Jojeon-je), finally arriving at the Farewell Ritual (Songsin-je).

Following the conclusion of Songsin-je, the Hwanu-gut is performed to confirm that the deities have favorably received all the offerings and rituals. The festival then reaches its grand finale with Soje, a ritual where all items used at the ritual site—including various implements, paper flowers (Jihwa), and the sacred tree—are burned to send them back to the spiritual realm.