Traditional new year decoration burning
![video in Japanese](http://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/japanese.png)
A town in Tokushima prefecture lit a huge bonfire today (Monday) -- it's the largest festival in the country.
People here incinerated about 20,000 bamboo poles.
The ritual brings Japan's extended new year events to a close.
As smoke rises into the sky, the god of the new year is said to return to heaven.
Local people prayed for good health and a bumper harvest.