日本: Wakakusa Yamayaki

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Bonfire + Grassfire at Wakakusa Yamayaki

Giant grassfires. What's not to love?
Throw in some domesticated deer, hordes of people, and a mountain and nothing could possibly go wrong! And nothing did. Although, it was so cold my mouth muscles were struggling to process a chocolate-filled pancake I had bought on the street. But challenges are character-building!

Every year the dead grass is burnt off of Nara's Mt Wakakusa in a ceremony called 'Wakakusa Yamayaki'. The ceremony itself has somewhat cloudy origins, but I'm fairly certain the tradition was continued due to the allure of fire and food. Today, it's a festival with lots of street food and people and fireworks. There was even some post-ceremony entertainment.

Mt Wakakusa in the daylight
Sunset from Mt Wakakusa
Procession to the bonfire
Wakakusa Yamayaki Fireworks
Bonfire + Grassfire at Wakakusa Yamayaki
Wakakusa Yamayaki Firetenders
Wakakusa Yamayaki (Roasting Mt Wakakusa in Nara)
Wakakusa Yamayaki (Roasting Mt Wakakusa in Nara) Part of Kofuku-ji at Night
Smoky Moon
Post-Ceremony Entertainment

7 comments:

Nicole said...

Everything about where you are seems amazing.

Manda said...

I love going to things like traditional ceremonies when traveling. It's often some of my favorite parts about traveling, and really gives you a glimpse into another culture. I mean, I'm not sure if the US has many comparable equivalents. The annual Independence Day hot dog eating contest just doesn't compare!

Carolyn Watson-Dubisch said...

Your photos are amazing!

Test said...

what a cool event!

rooth said...

Wow - I really like how you're taking part in all of these neat cultural activities and events. You're making me so jealous :)

sewa mobil jakarta said...

Amazing photo, thanks for sharing.

Guidefest said...

Burning a mountain ? That's completely crazy, these stuff only happen in Japan ;)