The Mount Akiba Fire Protection Festival, a traditional fire dance for prosperity/Odawara

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1212060026/

December 7, 2012

A yamabushi drawing a sanskrit character with a torch=Ryōgaku Temple, Mount Akiba, Itabashi, Odawara City

The Mount Akiba Fire Protection Festival took place on the evening of the 6th, conducted by the Ryōgaku Temple of Itabashi, Odawara City. The annual event features a traditional ceremony to burn off one's sins and impurities accumulated over the past year and welcome a prosperous New Year.

After 7:00PM, 30 fully dressed Buddhist priests gather from all over Japan. In a ceremonial dance, Sanskrit characters are drawn in the air with a torch, which acts as an amulet cut off worldly desires and cleanse the area. As the yamabushi continued, temple visitors walked barefoot over flames placed on the ground, praying for health and wellness.

Original text:
伝統行事「秋葉山火防祭」、繁栄願い火の舞／小田原
2012年12月7日

たいまつで梵字を書く山伏＝小田原市板橋の秋葉山量覚

今年一年の罪やけがれを焼き払い、新年の繁栄を願う伝統行事「秋葉山火防（ひぶせ）祭」が６日夜、小田原市板橋の秋葉山量覚院で行われた。

午後７時すぎ、全国から集まった約３０人の修験者装束の山伏が、魔よけの「法剣作法」で場を清め、たいまつで梵字（ぼんじ）を書く火の舞の儀式を披露。山伏に続き、参拝者がおき火の上を素足で歩く火渡りを行い、無病息災を祈願した。