Description

[Lyahdan]

Thanks to the falls, the waters of the lake are in constant movement, ripples and waves bouncing from the shore.

But for the festival, shugenja have spoken to the water kami, urging them to calm and dampening the waves to allow tonight's parade of lanterns to drift across the water without fear of capsizing.

Hundreds of fellow pilgrims release lanterns to bob gently across the lake, golden glowing motes as far as the eye can see. On the shore, groups cluster, watching their lanterns; sharing memories, food, and drink; reciting prayers to guide their beloved dead; and setting up small, temporary ancestral shrines at the water's edge to burn offerings to send into Yomi.