Obon (or Bon) is an ancient Japanese Buddhist custom where communities gather to honor and celebrate the spirits of their departed family members and ancestors. During Obon, it is believed their spirits return to celebrate side by side with the living. It is a joyous, colorful celebration filled with fun, food, music and dance.
The “Bon season” is an important part of present day culture and life in Hawaii. It was brought here by the Japanese plantation workers who immigrated to the islands in the late 19th century and is celebrated every year in Hawaii by people of all races, religions and backgrounds.
In Japan, the Obon festival lasts three days, but in Hawaii, Obon festival season lasts much longer. In Hawaii, festival season begins in June and continues through September with events usually held on the weekends throughout the islands.
Attending an Obon festival is a feast for the senses. The sounds of traditional music and Taiko drums fill the air. The delicious aroma of festival foods like yakitori skewers, noodles and sweet confections tickle your nose. Overhead rows of brightly colored paper lanterns hang on lines to guide the spirits traveling down from the heavens. Crowds of beautifully dressed dancers wearing kimono and yukata gracefully circle the impressively high tall wooden yagura stage while performing the bon odori.
The main attraction of any Obon festival is the bon odori which translates to Bon dance. This style of dance is performed only during Obon and is performed to welcome the spirits of the dead. The dancers line up in a circle around the yagura and it is believed that the ancestors join in and are dancing alongside the dancers as they perform the bon odori . It is not uncommon for some participants in the bon odori to feel a departed loved one’s presence during the dance.
The dance itself has its origins in an ancient story of one of the Buddha’s disciples, a monk named Mokuren. During deep meditation Mokuren became aware of his deceased mother’s suffering. After making offerings Mokuren was able to liberate his deceased mother from her suffering.
Mokuren was so overjoyed that his mother was free from suffering that he immediately started dancing with joy to honor his mother’s spirit and the sacrifices she made for him while she was alive. Mokuren’s dance was the firs bon odori and the dance continues to be an expression of celebrating the life and sacrifices of deceased family and loved ones.
In Hawaii, Obon festivals are held throughout the islands at local Buddhist temples honwanjis of the Jodo Shinshu Buddhist sect, some Shintoist missions, and occasionally at shopping centers. The celebrations are open to all people regardless of religious or spiritual beliefs. The celebrations are a lot of fun and everyone is welcome to participate and join the bon odori line and dance along with the other participants. One rule to keep in mind is to just keep moving along and keep pace with the rest of the dancers. Don’t worry about not knowing all the dance moves just follow along and enjoy the celebration!
The festivals usually have many arts and crafts booths for you to check out, and if you get hungry from all the dancing, there will definitely be tasty food booths for you to satisfy your hunger pangs, get recharged, and get back into the bon odori line in no time for more dancing!
Obon festival is a lot of fun and not to be missed. If you have never experienced it before you should definitely go with your Japanese girlfriend to the festival. You will absolutely have a great time and also be able to pay respects to the ancestors while celebrating life at the same time.
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