Japan Photo Journal: Spring symbol

Candles placed in lotus flower-shaped holders are arranged in the shape of a mandala, the spiritual image of the universe in Buddhism, during a festival held at Kurama-dera Temple in Kyoto's Sakyo Ward on the night of May 18, 2019. About 1,400 participants prayed in front of the main hall of the temple before placing the lights on an 8-meter-square stone pavement along its mandala pattern. The annual ritual has been held since 1954 on May nights with a full moon, on which a strong energy is believed to descend. The stone pavement represents a view of Mount Kurama, a holy place in which the temple is located, from where the energy of the infinite universe is believed transmitted.

(Japanese original by Ai Kawahira, Kyoto Bureau)