Happy Obon (Bon Buddhist Festival) – August 15 2012

Obon is an annual Japanese and Buddhist-Confucian event for remembrance and commemoration of one’s ancestors.

It is believed that each year during Obon (also known as the Bon festival), the spirits of ancestors return to this world in order to visit their loved ones and relatives. The festival of Obon lasts for 3 days in Japan.

Traditionally, lanterns are hung in front of houses to guide the ancestors’ spirits, obon dances, also called bon odori are performed, grave sites are visited and food offerings are made at house altars and buddhist temples.

Obon is a shortened form of Ullambana. It is Sanskrit for “hanging upside down” and means great suffering. Japanese buddhists believe they should ameliorate the suffering of the “Urabanna”.

At the end of Bon festival known as Toro Nagashi, floating lanterns are put into rivers, lakes and seas in order to guide the spirits back into their world. These floating lanterns symbolize ancestor spirits returning to the world of the dead and commonly ends with fireworks at many venues of celebration.

The Chakra team wishes all Japanese and Buddhists a happy Bon festival (Obon) in 2012.

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