Photo= Hiunkaku Pavilion lit up in the test illumination (Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto) = Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-Ha sect

Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-Ha sect headquartered in Nishi Hongwanji Temple, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, announced on August 30 that it would hold nocturnal illumination of "Goeido," "Hiunkaku" pavilion and other buildings in the temple's precincts for the first time. The illumination will last for 10 days from October 1.

The illumination is an event related to "Dento Hokoku Hoyo," or Buddhist sermons to announce both inside and outside the sect that Kojun Otani took the office of the sect's head priest in June 2014. The sermons will be held for a total of 80 days from October 1 to May 31 next year, with more than 200,000 visitors expected.

The illumination will take place at Goeido, where a wooden image of Shinran, the founder of the sect, is enshrined, "Amidado," or Hall of Amitabha Buddha, where the temple's principal image, a wooden standing statue of Amitabha Buddha is placed, and the buildings designated as National Treasures, including Hiunkaku pavilion and others, as well as Goeido Gate, Amidado Gate, "Kyozo," or sutra repository, and other places. Under the title of "Hana Tomyo," or flowery votive candle, the temple encourages people to come to worship. It is said that the Pure Land Paradise described in the "Bussetsu Amida-kyo" sutra, a Buddhist scripture, will be reproduced through four-colored illumination using blue, yellow, red and white lights.

The illumination will be held for three hours from 6:30 p.m. during the event. The admission fee is 500 yen for adults and 300 yen for elementary and junior high school students. All of the collected fees will be donated to the sect's "Tasukeai Undo Bokin," or mutual cooperation movement fund as Kumamoto earthquake disaster relief funds.