Pumpkin ritual held on winter solstice in Kyoto

Visitors to a temple in the ancient city of Kyoto on Tuesday ate simmered pumpkin as part of a traditional ritual to ward off illness.

The Kabocha Kuyo, or pumpkin ceremony, is held annually on the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, to ensure good health for the next 12 months.

On Tuesday, 300 servings of pumpkin cooked in a sweet broth were sold to visitors for about 5 dollars a bowl.

People then wrote their New Year's wishes on wooden sticks that were left to burn in the main hall, and offered prayers.

A woman in her 70s from Kyoto City said the pumpkin was delicious and that she prayed for vigor in the New Year.

Temperatures fell to just below freezing in Kyoto on Tuesday morning --- about 3 degrees Celsius lower than normal around this time of year.