Year-end cleaning under way at Horyuji temple

Buddhist monks have held a year-end ritual called Ominugui to clean ancient statues at Horyuji temple in the ancient capital of Nara, western Japan.

On Tuesday, monks chanted a sutra in Horyuji's Golden Hall before setting out to remove accumulated dust from the Shaka Triad, a national treasure, and other statues in the temple.

The cleaners wore masks and used brushes and dusters made of traditional Japanese washi paper, filling the hall with clouds of dust.

Later, many worshippers came to pray in front of the newly clean statues.

A couple in their 50s said they felt refreshed to see the clean look of the statues, adding that they should probably start cleaning their own house too.