It is customary to first purify your body and mind with water when visiting a shrine. 1) Scoop up water in a hishaku (water ladle) with your right hand and pour water over your left hand. 2) Transfer the hishaku from your right hand to the left and pour water over your right hand.
3) Transfer the hishaku in your right hand again, then cup up your left hand and place some water in it.
4) Rinse your mouth with the water in your cupped hand and spit the water beside the temizuya. You are not supposed to transfer the water directly from the hishaku into your mouth or swallow the water.
5) Clean your left hand in the same manner and make sure to lift the hishaku so that water streams down the handle before putting it back onto the temizuya. This gesture represents the act of purifying the ladle.
Canon EOS 5D Mark II 1/160 second F/5.0 ISO 1000 162 mm