Shimenawa making in full swing

Officials at the Shinsho-ji Temple in Narita, near Tokyo, are busy making straw ropes called Shimenawa for New Year's decorations.

The Buddhist temple draws millions of people during the New Year holidays. It traditionally embellishes its main hall with Shimenawa ornaments to pray for abundant crops. These straw ropes are designed to resemble rice stalks.

Officials at the temple, helped by women from nearby farms, braided pounded straw into ropes about a meter and a half long each, which were then hung on wooden frames. Upon completion, the ornament measures more than six meters long and weighs about 200 kilograms.

The ornament will be placed on the front of the main hall on December 25th.

2008/12/01 15:33

http://www.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/01_21.html

News: Apple Mac OS X Code Name Snow Leopard
Mesothelioma Information
Canada Immigration