The Daimonji Bonfire, when the city of Nara prays for world peace. 大 (Meaning large, great) appears to float in the night sky.

Translated from the original article at: http://nara.keizai.biz/headline/763/

The night sky of the ancient capital, Nara is lit up during the Daimonji Bonfire. The photo was taken right in front of the Suzakumon Gate at 8:06PM, August 15, 2012

On August 15, the Daimonji Bonfire was held in prayer of world peace and to comfort the souls of those lost in the war. Held on Takamado Mountain in the Byakugo-ji Temple Town of Nara City, people prayed as the 大 character could be seen floating in the night sky.

The Nara Daimonji Bonfire, a fire prayer festival for fallen soldiers and eternal world peace, began in 1960. A special location was set up in Nara Public Park, where the Puja Ritual was performed for the spirits of the prefecture’s 29,243 fallen soldiers. Afterwards at 8:00PM, the fire beds were lit and the 大 character could be seen floating in the former capital’s night sky.

No other festival in Japan has Chinese characters this large being lit up. The first covered 109 meters, the second 164 and the 3rd 128.

Original text:

奈良・世界平和願い「大文字送り火」－奈良の夜空に「大」の字浮かぶ

古都・奈良の夜空を焦がす｢大文字送り火｣（写真手前は朱雀門）2012年8月15日20時6分撮影

戦没者の慰霊と世界平和を願う「奈良大文字送り火」が8月15日、高円山（奈良市白毫寺町）で行われ、夜空に浮かび上がった「大」の字に祈りを込めた。

「奈良大文字送り火」は、戦没者慰霊と恒久平和を祈る火の祭典として1960（昭和35）年から始まった。奈良公園の特設会場で県出身の戦没者2万9243人の英霊を供養する慰霊祭が営まれた後、20時から火床に火が入れられると古都の夜空に｢大｣の字が浮かび上がった

奈良大文字送り火は、字の第1画が109メートル、第2画が164メートル、第3画が128メートルあり日本最大級。