Sign of Spring, Grass Burning Ceremony

Every year , "Grass Burning Ceremony" in Mt. Wakakusa is held on the forth Saturday of January. This ceremony is the most spectacular and popular event in winter Nara. This year it was held on 26th January.

Since ancient times, fire has long been used for purification and cleansing both in Buddhism and Shintoism in Japan.

There are many spots to enjoy watching the event. I watched it at the foot of Mt. Wakakusa.

  300 firefighters are ready for "Grass Burning Ceremony" with their fire engines.

Before the ceremony, a dancing entertainment is  held on a temporarily built stage.

 "Passion"

Elegant and exotic with Chinese fragrance.

Sento-kun is a holy boy with deer antlers, who was chosen as a mascot for the 1300th anniversary of the transfer of the capital to Heijo-kyo Nara in 2010.

 Now he is a super star.!

The sacred fire is carried to the foot of Mt. Wakakusa.  They make a bonfire. 

The Buddhist monks of Todai-ji Temple and Kofuku-ji Temple, and Shinto priests of Kasuga Grand Shrine perform a small ritual.

A number of fireworks are launched. They are so big!! 

300 firefighters set the mountain on fire.

Huge walls of fire and smoke appear and overwhelm us. Walls are swelling and swirling,
 being buffeted by gusts of wind.  What a dynamic scenery it is!!

The area of 33 hectares is burnt down in 30 minutes.

"Grass Burning Ceremony" dates back to 1760. But its origin is not clear. One theory says the mountain was set fire to solve the boundary dispute between temples and a shrine near the mountain. Other theory says someone started to set fire to console the ghost's spirit which haunted around a small tomb on the top of the mountain. Also it is said that the mountain was burnt to drive away wild boars. 

People in Nara see every phase of seasons in every festival or ceremony. "Grass Burning Ceremony" has long been seen as  a harbinger of spring.  The subtle hint of spring exists even in the icy air. When spring comes here, fresh sprouts will spring up out of the ashes.  To burn the mountain is also for rejuvenation of the mountain.

My related blog,  "Fire for Purification".(Click here.)

On 28th January, two days after the ceremony, Nara Park was covered with snow.

 Mt. Wakakusa is over there.

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Come and Go

May the coming new year be the best 

for all of you, all people and all beings throughout the world. 

At this time of the year, holidays illumination events are held all over Japan. What do people think, walking under the ephemeral light of the stars? 

    I feel as if the stars were falling over us.

I imagine how the night sky of the olden days looked like. It must have been filled with subtle and transient light of stardust.  Now we are enjoying the artificial star falling night. Beautiful but I  miss the genuine  star falling night. 

 A tiny moon is over the blue twinkling stars.

Tohoku(東北) Hnad in Hand. We have prayed for Tohoku.

2012 is going to close the curtain and New Year is coming around soon.  We look back on 2012 ,and wish the coming new year the happiest and most peaceful.
A year comes and goes silently and surely.

Thank you, all my friends, for visiting my blog and leaving your warm messages.

See you next year!

keiko

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Nothing Special or Something Special

I have been amazed with the speed, I mean, everything comes and goes too fast. A few days ago, I still enjoyed the remains of beautiful autumn, but yesterday, Nara had the first snowfall of the season. And today we had the coldest day of this winter. 

Yesterday (December 9th) in Nara 

Nara had the first snow on 9th December.

Snow was melting and tiny water drops were dripping  under a dull sky.

When taking photos, I heard the sound of drums echoing. "Nara Marathon" began! This is an annual event.

About 10,000 people participated in the marathon. Many of them seemed not to mind a record, but just to enjoy running.

They were cheering up the participants with drum sounds.

A few days ago in Kyoto

Many of leaves were losing glowing autumn colors and turning muted earth colors. But they looked even more profound and tasteful.

Fallen leaves were dancing a farewell waltz in water.

Autumn was disappearing, leaving beautiful footprints.

Here I met a refined camerawoman.  We had a pleasant time to enjoy the last autumn and its reflections on a wooden floor. We took photos lying on our stomachs. Otherwise the reflections could not be captured. It must have be a funny scene if somebody had seen two women lying on the floor and taking photos.

Merry Christmas cappuccino to you
in my favorite cafe


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Autumn Wonderland

In Nara Park(奈良公園), maples and ginkgoes are boasting beautiful autumn colors

 in the thickening dusk. The  deer are going home.

 This year is very very special. Usually leaves of ginkgo trees turn shining  gold at first. Around the time the ginkgo trees are shedding leaves, maple leaves are  turning glorious autumn colors. So it is hard to enjoy both of them together at the best time. But this year we can enjoy both of them at the same time because coldness came earlier.

Is this a wonderful gift from a capricious Goddess of Autumn? The nature is weaving brocades from autumn foliage in myriad of colors. 

There is a Japanese expression "錦秋　Kinshuu" to depict the autumn beautifully decorated with autumn leaves. "錦‐Kin" means "Brocade" and "秋‐shuu" autumn.

In Nara Park.  A ginkgo tree looks like as if it wore crimson maple brocade!!

All photos were taken in Nara Park, Nara and in Jingo-ji Temple, Kyoto. 

In Nara Park,  children are playing with the deer after school.

Here is Jingo-ji temple(神護寺) on Mt. Takao(高雄山) in Kyoto. The mountain and the temple are well-known as popular maple viewing spots.  I did not see ginkgo trees here. I wished  there had been ginkgo trees.

These are the last staircases to the main hall of the temple. 

The maple trees are flaming and reaching their hands to the visitors!

 Nature pleases the eye as well as the palate. 

They are Tenpura of maple leaves, deep-fried maple leaves.
I bought them as a souvenir.

 A body of a car becomes a canvas! Nature is an artist.

The weather of the day when I visited was very bumpy. It rained and the sun appeared, and it rained again and the sun appeared repeatedly. 

But after rain, the shining of the leaves become even more brighter 

and their colors become more profound.

Oh, I found more ”Kinshuu-錦秋” here and there!! Let's enjoy with me!

Over the head

on the ground

In water

In an open-air restaurant  in a Japanese style

After dark

My related blogs are

Sayonara, Autumn leaves

Glory for a Short Time

 I often pass  a small river near my house. On the bank of the river,  there is a tiny park with Sakura cherry trees. I have never seen any people or children in this park.  I have had an impression the people have not payed attention to the park for a long time.

One day I saw this scenery. 

  

Autumn leaves of Sakura cherry trees are floating and flowing on the river quietly,  

basking in the late afternoon sun.

Each leave holds a shining light proudly! 

 Glorious moment for the river! I am in a right time and in a right place!

 The river and leaves are sining a song in praise of autumn.  

They are coming and coming and coming.

From time to time, the sun disappears behind clouds.

The river and fallen leaves, thank you very much. You inspired me in many ways. 

I do not drive a car. No matter where I go, I take a public transportation. So many times I have to give up going to a distant place to take photos. But you showed me  a heavenly scenery in an earthly place. You taught me "beauty is everywhere". 

Peace  and serenity in Nara Park.

I visited Tokyo with my mother to see my son last week. Mom was so happy to see him that she continued talking with him. 

 I  close comments for a while. Thanks a lot for visiting my blog.