How to Celebrate

    -Obon celebration- means spirits of ancestors go  home, and then stay home with their family during only Obon.  

   Obon Celebration has 3 elements.

    1. Festival of Spirits of ancestors

    2. Festival of Wishing rich crops

    3. Festival of Soul ---- Idea of The Soul

    * Both Festival of Spirits of ancestors and Festival of Wishing rich crops are related.  The God of wishing rich crops is, that is to say, the spirits of ancestors.  The spirits of ancestors become God and keep one's eyes on giving a good crop to descendants.  Thus we serve some crops as offerings to the God of the spirit of ancestors and celebrate together.  And also, we wish the next year's harvest by eating these crops.  Celebrating the harvest is equal to welcoming the spirit of ancestors.

 

Traditional Celebration

    In the evening of 12th or the morning 13th, we will prepare decoration and offering in front of a household Buddhist alter.  We will light up a small fire at the gate of house in the evening of 13th on the first day of the Obon Festival to welcome back departed spirits.

 

    In 16th, we will have a small fire for escorting the spirits of the dead to the other world (the tombs) at same place as we did 13th. 

    After a person died, the relatives will do the celebration more respectful as first time.  In front of a household Buddhist altar, they will decorate offering (cucumber, eggplant) which is fresh farm product, they also will offer rice, vegetables, fruits, rice cakes, and flowers.

    * When Obon's day comes in less than the 49 days (the period is when the soul wanders between this world and the next) after a person died, and then we usually omit it.

Present Celebration

    In general, the main activity during Obon is Ohaka Mairi (visiting the family tomb and lighting the lanterns).   People visit other families' tombs and reminisce about the dead with their relatives.  The mood in the cemetery is respectful.  Bon-Odori (Bon dance) also will be hold around public squares.

Examples of The Celebration

 

 

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