Japanese Traditional Fire-Walking Ritual

Worshippers at a Buddhist temple in Tokushima City in western Japan, followed ascetic monks in a traditional fire-walking ritual to pray for good health on Setsubun. Dainichiji Temple, the 13th of the 88 temples on the famed pilgrimage route in Shikoku, hosts the event every year on Setsubun and on July 18 at its inner temple of Konjiji. Setsubun is the last day of winter on the traditional Japanese calendar. It fell on February 3, Tuesday this year.