The Great Buddha statue in Nara, western Japan, has been dusted in an annual summer ritual.
The statue at Todaiji Temple is cleaned every year on August 7 ahead of the Bon festival, when people pay respects to their ancestors.
On Monday morning, monks staged a ceremony to temporarily remove the Buddha's soul from the statue.
More than 100 monks and worshippers then climbed the 15-meter-high statue to dust every corner and intricate detail.
Baskets suspended from the ceiling were used to lift some of the cleaners close to the Buddha's face and chest.
A child said it looked frightening to work from such a height, but that he's glad to see the statue get clean.
The head of the temple, Hashimura Koei, said he hopes people watching the cleanup will also feel refreshed.
The statue at Todaiji Temple is cleaned every year on August 7 ahead of the Bon festival, when people pay respects to their ancestors.
On Monday morning, monks staged a ceremony to temporarily remove the Buddha's soul from the statue.
More than 100 monks and worshippers then climbed the 15-meter-high statue to dust every corner and intricate detail.
Baskets suspended from the ceiling were used to lift some of the cleaners close to the Buddha's face and chest.
A child said it looked frightening to work from such a height, but that he's glad to see the statue get clean.
The head of the temple, Hashimura Koei, said he hopes people watching the cleanup will also feel refreshed.
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Summary
Yearly summer ritual: Great Buddha statue in Nara, Japan is dusted prior to Bon festival on August 7. Monks and worshippers climb the 15-meter-high statue to clean every corner and detail. A ceremony is held to temporarily remove the Buddha's soul from the statue. The head of the temple, Hashimura
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ID: 2115c38e-4e53-4993-b681-424fb8656592
Category ID: nhk
URL: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230808_09/
Date: Aug. 8, 2023
Created: 2023/08/08 17:10
Updated: 2025/12/09 01:13
Last Read: 2023/08/08 17:12