*Baikamo* in bloom and the lantern-floating ceremony

I visited the Jizo River in Samegai, Maibara City, Shiga Prefecture, Japan several times this year to see the *Baikamo* (Japanese river water-crowfoot) in bloom, but the highlight is the "Manto-nagashi" (floating lantern ceremony) that serves as the finale of the Samegai Jizo Festival, starting at 8:00 PM on August 24th. Lanterns drift down the *Baikamo*-growing river, creating a truly spectacular sight as their lights reflect on the water's surface. 

First of all, I would like to introduce *Baikamo* (Japanese river water-crowfoot).

These are *Baikamo* flowers in bloom at Jizo-river. *Baikamo* only grows in rivers with cold, clean, flowing water.

The Jizo-river filled with colonies of*Baikamo*. For reference, *Baikamo* (Japanese river water-crowfoot) does not grow nearly as densely at the location where the lantern-floating ceremony takes place.

Many tourists visit to see the blossoms of*Baikamo*. They are eagerly taking photographs with their smartphones and digital SLR cameras.

Candles are lit inside floating lanterns crafted by children or primary, secondary students as well as adults, which are then set afloat from the upper reaches of the Jizo River. 

Since the *Baikamo* is growing in the river, the lanterns sometimes get caught the plants, requiring event staff to drag them away from*Baikamo*. On this day, there were plenty of food stalls set up, and the atmosphere was incredibly lively. There were quite a few young ladies dressed in *yukata*. A yukata is a flashy, single-layered kimono, usually worn in summer. 

The light from the many lanterns atop the bridge is reflected on the water’s surface, and the floating lanterns are crossing over it. They are waiting for their lanterns coming down from the upper stream.