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Buddhist monks perform part of a ritual for theHiwatari Shinji, or firewalking ceremony, whichtook place inside the Daisho-in, a historicalJapanese temple, on Miyajima Nov. 15, 2012. After the haze clears, the monks then pass out sticks of wood with prayers written by those attending inscribed on them. Handfuls of prayer sticks are thrown into the blaze, releasing the wishes of the pilgrims and granting good luck. - Buddhist monks perform part of a ritual for the Hiwatari Shinji, or firewalking ceremony, which took place inside the Daisho-in, a historical Japanese temple, on Miyajima Nov. 15, 2012. After the haze clears, the monks then pass out sticks of wood with prayers written by those attending inscribed on them. Handfuls of prayer sticks are thrown into the blaze, releasing the wishes of the pilgrims and granting good luck.