News



WHY NOT VISIT LIGHT-FILLED NARA THIS SUMMER?
7/7/2010


Kippo News from Wednesday, Jun 16, 2010

　One summer day, on my way back to Osaka after swimming in the sea at Toba, I heard someone mention that places in Nara would be filled with lights that night. Nara is well-known for light-ups at temples, shrines and scenic spots from summer to autumn, but what was special about that night was that parts of Nara would be illuminated with tens of thousands of candles.

　So I stopped by Nara. When I was walking up a road in the Naramachi district, trees of light seemed to stand along Sarusawa-ike Pond. Getting closer, I found that what I had thought were trees of light were actually candlelights surrounding the pond. The candles were flickering as if welcoming visitors. The candlelight path led from Nara Park to the area including and surrounding Nara National Museum, the Nara Prefectural Government Office, Kofukuji Temple and Todaiji Temple.

　Each candle was placed on a colorful, flower-shaped cup, and arrays of such cups were arranged into unique designs depending on their locations — they were so beautiful that I would call them light paintings.

　Many people were gathering around the candles and no one seemed to be in a hurry. Some of them were staring at the lights and others were proceeding from light to light — it was a mysterious scene — it was as if people were embracing the scene and conversing with the candlelight.

　I was lucky to visit Nara on one of the nights during NARA TO-KAE. “TO-KA,” which means a flower-shaped glimmer on a candlewick, is believed to bring happiness in Buddhism, while “E” is a Buddhist term meaning a memorial service.

　Some people in Nara have kept up the custom of placing candles of happiness in their garden in summer. A movement to spread this custom throughout Nara gathered much momentum and finally led to a light-up event held in and around Nara Park in 1999. The event is organized by a nonprofit organization with the support of volunteers, public and private organizations, temples and shrines, and other organizations. The event has now grown into a light-up festival organized with a unified effort by the people of Nara. Recently, the event has attracted 700,000 visitors and more than 20,000 candles have been lit.

　The event is held for ten days from August 5-14 every year. Event hours this year will be from 7:00 p.m.–9:45 p.m.

　The light-up event will run for only 10 days. Since this year marks the 1,300th anniversary of Nara Heijo-kyo Capital, Nara is expected to attract more visitors this summer. NARA TO-KAE will provide a good opportunity for such visitors to pray for happiness while viewing candlelights.

　Though “TO-KA” is a light of happiness in Buddhist beliefs, as I mentioned previously, NARA TO-KAE itself has nothing to do with Buddhism or any other religion. The candles are made from nonhazardous materials that can be safely eaten by deer in Nara Park.

　However, please note that NARA TO-KAE may be cancelled depending on the weather, because the event, which features candles lit up outside, is vulnerable to wind and rain.

　Many spots are lit up in Nara in summer; many temples and shrines in Nara hold their unique light ceremonies. Such ceremonies include Manto-Kuyoe at Todaiji Temple and Chugen-Mantoro at Kasuga Taisha Shrine, both of which are held at around the same time as NARA TO-KAE. Nara is going to be filled with lights this summer.

(Junzo Tanaka)


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