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| I went into the sanctuary and could feel the ancestors around me (rpv-team/flickr). |
What is Obon?
Animist, Buddhist, Pagan, and Catholic Mexican-Americans in Los Angeles may have the Day of the Dead (just after all ironic, nominal Christians celebrate Halloween).But Japanese Buddhist and Shinto practitioners have much the same thing in this month's Obon Festival, which is being celebrated concurrently with the unrelated Lotus Festival and commencement of the annual Rains Retreat just a few miles apart.
Obon is an annual Buddhist event for commemorating one's ancestors. It is believed that each year during Obon, the ancestors' spirits return to this world in order to visit their relatives.
Traditionally, lanterns are hung in front of houses to guide the ancestors' spirits, Obon dances (bon odori) are performed, graves are visited, and food offerings are made at house altars and temples.
At the end of Obon, floating lanterns are put into rivers, lakes and seas in order to guide the spirits back into their world. The customs followed vary strongly from region to region.
Obon is observed from the 13th to the 15th day of the 7th month of the year, which is July according to the solar calendar. However, since the 7th month of the year roughly coincides with August rather than July according to the formerly used lunar calendar, Obon is still observed in mid August in many regions of Japan, while it is observed in mid July in other regions.
The Obon week in mid August is one of Japan's three major holiday seasons, accompanied by intensive domestic and international travel activities and increased accommodation rates. In recent years, travel activity in mid August.
- Event Location: Nishi Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
- 815 First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
- Obon Festival + Bon Odori Schedule: http://bit.ly/bLkTf
Japanese Obon Festival and Bon Odori Schedule
- 1) 2014 Monterey Peninsula Buddhist 68th Annual Temple Obon Festival (Sunday Only) [Confirmed] (Sunday, 13 July, 2014)
- 2) 2014 Nishi Hongwanji Buddhist Temple Obon Festival - Los Angeles (2 days) [Confirmed] (Sunday, 13 July, 2014)
- 3) 2014 56th Zenshuji Soto Mission Annual Obon Matsuri - Los Angeles (2 Days) [Confirmed] (Sunday, 13 July, 2014)
- 4) 2014 Enmanji Buddhist Temple Obon Odori Dance Only (Saturday) (Sunday, 13 July, 2014)
- 5) 2014 Okinawa Association's Annual Picnic & Okinawa Bon Odori • ピクニックと沖縄盆踊り (Sunday, 13 July, 2014)
- 6) 2014 San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin Obon Festival - JapanTown (Different Times) (2 Days) (Sunday, 13 July, 2014)
- 7) 2014 Bon Odori Dance Practice - Buddhist Church of Oakland (Monday, 14 July, 2014)
- 8) 2014 Bon Odori Dance Practice - Buddhist Church of San Francisco (M/W/F) [Confirmed] (Monday, 14 July, 2014)
- 9) 2014 Bon Odori Dance Practice - Seattle Buddhist Temple [Confirmed] (Monday, 14 July, 2014)
- 10) 2014 Bon Odori Dance Practice - Southeast Japanese School & Community Center Cultural (SEJSCC) (Monday, 14 July, 2014)
- 11) 2014 Bon Odori Practice - Venice Hongwanji Buddhist Temple (Monday, 14 July, 2014)
- 12) 2014 Bon Odori Dance Practice - Buddhist Church of Florin [Confirmed] (Tuesday, 15 July, 2014)
- 13) 2014 Bon Odori Dance Practice - Buddhist Temple of Salinas (Tue/Thu) [Confirmed] (Tuesday, 15 July, 2014)
- 14) 2014 Bon Odori Dance Practice - Gardena Buddhist Church (Tu/Th) [Confirmed] (Tuesday, 15 July, 2014)
- 15) 2014 Bon Odori Dance Practice - Pasadena Buddhist Temple (Tu/Th) (Tuesday, 15 July, 2014)
- 16) 2014 Bon Odori Dance Practice - Seattle Buddhist Temple [Confirmed] (Tuesday, 15 July, 2014)
- 17) 2014 Bon Odori Dance Practice - WLA - West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple (WLA) (Tuesday, 15 July, 2014)
- 18) 2014 Bon Odori Practice - Mountain View Buddhist Temple (Tuesday, 15 July, 2014)
- 19) 2014 Bon Odori Practice - Stockton Buddhist Temple (Tuesday, 15 July, 2014)
- 20) 2014 Bon Odori Dance Practice - Buddhist Church of Florin [Confirmed] (Wednesday, 16 July, 2014)
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