Bon Festival

Obon, or the Bon Festival, is a traditional Japanese observance held over a three-day period in the summer. Obon signifies a time when the spirits of deceased family members are believed to return for a brief visit to the world of the living. Obon is a joyous as well as solemn occasion, serving to honor ancestors and thank them for contributing to the quality of life enjoyed by the living.

During Obon, families gather in an open space in the village to perform Bon Odori, folk dancing intended to entertain the visiting spirits. Men, women, and children dance in circles around a platform called a Yagura, upon which drummers and flutists perform. As the evening progresses, the singing and dancing become more animated. Lively fairs with games, food, amusements, and shop stalls are also found in larger communities.

On the last night of Obon, the ancestors are believed to depart for the otherworld, their journey illuminated by farewell fires. In many communities these take the form of simple paper lanterns floated on bodies of water. Families who have experienced deaths in the past year may float elaborately decorated boats to transport their recently deceased to the other side for the first time. In Japan, the otherworld is traditionally regarded as lying beyond the sea or mountains. At the Morikami, the three-day event is celebrated in one evening, and features a street fair, Bon odori folk dancing, taiko drum performances, lantern floating on Morikami Pond and fireworks. Fore more information, go to www.morikami.org.