On Ōmisoka, Japanese families ring temple bells 108 times to banish human desires
As the clock strikes midnight in Japan, Buddhist temples ring their massive bronze bells 108 times in a ritual called Joya no Kane to cleanse the soul for the coming year.
On New Year's Eve, known as Ōmisoka, Japanese families gather at local temples to witness the striking of the bell exactly 108 times. This specific number represents the 108 worldly desires, or 'bonno,' that are believed to cause human suffering and spiritual impurity.
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