Festival of burning a whole mountain in Japan

Instead of just burning fireworks to celebrate the festival, the people of Nara city have a more organized way by burning an entire mountain.

Nara is a city in Nara Prefecture, Japan, and is the ancient capital of the cherry blossom country until 784. It is loved by tourists thanks to the traditional values ​​of colorful and colorful festivals. Excellent art and culture.One of them is the festival of Mount Wakakusa.(Photo: Jessica).

Wakakusa, 350 meters high, is an extinct volcano, behind Nara Park.From the top of the mountain, visitors can zoom out to see the whole city.(Photo: Jessica).

Wakakusa was originally covered with mop grass, the sides of the cherry blossoms were blooming in early April. However, when winter came, the grass was yellow and the cherry blossoms fell, the mountain became bare, u haunt.This is also the time when the famous Wakakusa Yamayaki festival begins.(Photo: Flickr).

Wakakusa Yamayaki Festival is held on the 4th Saturday of January. The festival's origins so far are not really clear, but many people believe that the cause comes from a dispute between two Todai temples. -ji and Kofuku-ji in 1760 around the ownership of Wakakusa mountain.Due to unsuccessful reconciliation, they decided to burn the mountain to resolve the conflict.However, according to another legend, the cause of mountain burning is believed to drive away wild boars, preventing them from attacking people.(Photo: Nagoya Taro).

Today, the festival is jointly organized by the three temples Todaiji, Kofukuji and Kasuga.The opening ceremony will be the torch burning ceremony at Kasuga Shrine.After that, the fire will be marched to the foot of Mount Wakakusa, where the pyre is built.(Photo: Iris).

At 18 o'clock, the festival opens with a brilliant firework display and when it is finished, the "mountain burning" ritual begins.(Photo: Iris).

The burning process can last from 30 minutes to an hour depending on the extent to which the grass is dry.(Photo: Iris).

Visitors can see this magnificent mountain scene at any point in Nara.(Photo: Rocky).