Torchlight rite held at Nara's Todaiji Temple

NARA, Japan - A toarchlight rite, the highlight of the annual ''Shuni-e'' or ''Omizutori'' (water-drawing) ceremony takes place at the Nigatsudo Hall of the Buddhist temple Todaiji in the ancient capital Nara, western Japan, on March 12. Some 20,000 people gathered in the night to see the rite, said to date from 752.