Toshodaiji temple gets year-end cleaning

Buddhist statues, designated as national treasures, at Toshodaiji temple in Japan's ancient capital of Nara underwent their year-end cleaning ritual on Tuesday.

The statues are in the temple's main hall, known as Kondo. It is also a national treasure, and was undergoing restoration work until last month. The cleaning ritual in Kondo was held for the first time in ten years.

Two Buddhist monks used dusters made of washi paper attached to 5-meter long bamboo poles and carefully worked around the treasures.

The chief priest of the temple, Shunkai Matsuura, said he is very grateful to have been able to carry out the ritual after such a long break and that he hopes many people will now feel more attached to