Burning Torches – March 13, 2025

  • Nara
  • Weather:  60’s°, overcast 

Serendipitously my first night in Nara coincides with Nigatsudo Hall’s annual fire touch procession.  Ten 25 feet long torches are carried to the temple’s balcony and held over the crowd’s head allowing  the burning embers to shower upon the onlookers. Omizutori is a 1250 year ritual and one of the oldest reoccurring Buddhist events in Japan. 

Torch carried up steps to Nigatsudo Hall.
Torch carried across the balcony.
Torch held off balcony.

The burning embers are thought to bestow onlookers with a safe year. (Oxymoron?)

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