According to the travel
site Tokyo Top Guide, the Obon Festival In Japan can be known as the Festival
of Souls, Bon Festival, or the Festival of Ancestors. It is one of the most joyful Japanese
celebrations, with dancing and drinking all night long. It is a true traditional Japanese Festival;
with the sound of Japanese drums, and the bright lights of the floating
lanterns.
Tokyo Top Guide stated the Festival of Obon is an annual event held during the
season of Hanabi. It is based on a
centuries old Japanese Buddhist custom that centers on honoring the spirits of
the deceased. The lanterns are put out
on the river” to guide the ancestors’ spirits on their way back to the land of
the deceased.”
This Buddhist festival has become a family reunion
holiday. For over 500 years, Obon
Festival in Japan has been celebrated and on the last day, “the spirits of the
ancestors are brought back to the grave, and family crest chochin painted meant
to guide the spirits are hung. It’s called okuri-bon.”
Tokyo Top Guide also said you
can watch or participate in the candle lighting, where floating lanterns are
placed in the river to float down to the ocean. People “send off the spirits of
their ancestors with the lanterns that have a lit candle inside.” You can watch or participate in a Bon Odori
dance performance. You can enjoy
listening to the Japanese Taiko drums. The streets are “filled with the sound
of Traditional Obon music along with Modern Japanese pop music.” During Obon, you can also sense the Senko
incense drifting through the streets.
According to Pete Lee from L.A. weekly, Obon festivals offer a large variety of comfort food: Japanese, Japanese-American and Hawaiian dishes and treats. Many non-traditional dishes have also been introduced over the years.
You will find chicken and beef teriyaki (most offer their own homemade secret teriyaki sauce), chili dogs, chili rice, curry rice, sushi, Spam musubi (Spam sushi), tamales, tacos, chashu bao (Chinese barbecued pork buns), mochi and snow cones at most Obon festivals.
Spam Sushi
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Cha Shu Bao
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Mochi
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For more information, visit http://www.pbs.org/food/fresh-tastes/matsuri-japanese-festival/
Come back next week for another blog about a holiday and related recipes!
