Bon Festival
The Obon (Bon Odori) is a Japanese Buddhist feast period. Traditionally a dance festival, it has existed for more than 500 years. It is held from 13th of July to the 16th ("Welcoming Obon" and "Farewell Obon" respectively) in the eastern part of Japan (Kanto), and in August in the western part (Kansai). This is comparable to the Day of the Dead or Halloween.
This Buddhist festival has been transformed into a family reunion holiday during which people from the big cities return to their home towns and visit and clean their ancestors' burying ground. Japanese people tend to think that this festival has something to do with religion and the souls of their ancestors, but this interpretation is often wrong. It is said that this tradition first began a few hundred years ago when youngsters of those times did not have any particular entertainment. It is customary to fashion horses and cows out of cucumbers and eggplants. This is done to facilitate the return of the dead.
The Bon Odori festival is well known all over the country, and every prefecture has different ways of celebrating it. Each prefecture has its own ways of dancing and its own music to go with it. A Bon Odori in Okayama prefecture will be completely different from one in Kanagawa prefecture. People line up around a high wooden building made especially for the festival called a yagura. There are many kinds of music that go with the dance. The music varies from classical music to Japanese traditional music such as the Makkou Onndo.
People often wear a kimono and yukata when they dance. This adds a very good touch to the atmosphere. The Bon Odori festival has a long history, and has made many changes as years go by. It is still treasured by many people from all generations, and is a tradition which will be likely to continue from now on too.
Obon is a shortened form of the legendary Urabonne/Urabanna. (Sanskrit for "hanging upside down in hell and suffering"). The Japanese believe they should ameliorate the suffering of the "Urabanna".
In the time of Shaka; one of his fellows Mokuren saw the image of his dead mother suffering in hell. Mokuren was desperate to relieve her pain and asked Shaka for help. Shaka answered, "On 15th of July, provide a big feast for the past seven generations of dead. Mokuren did as he was told, and thankfully, his mother's suffering was relieved. This is the inception of the tradition.
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See also: Japanese calendar, Japanese culture
- This article should be merged with Bon Odori
