The Synergy Project Magazine - October 2020

in the Realm of Hungry Ghosts,
a shadowy underworld full of
suffering. The Buddha instructed
his disciple to make offerings on
the 15th day of the 7th month to
Buddhist monks returning from
their summer retreat. By doing so,
Maha Maudgalyayana was able
to free his mother. Afterwards,
he danced with joy. This dance is
said to be the origin of the Obon
festival. The dance is called the Bon
dance.
On the first day, people take
chochin (paper) lanterns and light
them inside their houses. Then
they go to the graves of their
relatives or loved ones so they can
guide them back home with the
light of the lanterns. Some people
may even leave it outside their
homes to do so. This process is
called mukae-bon. In some regions,
big fires are lit at the entrance of
the homes with the same purpose.
Most families do two shōryōdana
(altar for spirits) which may include
fruits, incenses, and flowers—one
for their own ancestors, and a
second for any spirits who have
not attained peace. Other common
rituals include ohakamairi, cleaning
and decorating ancestral tombs,
prayer services at temples, and
preparing special meals.
Obon is a memorial but not
solemn. The second day (AKA
Nakanuhi or the middle day) is
the celebration of the spirits’
homecoming.There are festivals
during the second day and the bon
dance is performed. The style of
the dance varies from area to area
and Japanese taiku drums keep
the rhythm for the celebrations
in all regions. Bon Odori typically
happens in parks, gardens, shrines,
or temples. People wear summer
kimonos and dancers perform
around a yagura stage. Anyone
who participates in the festival is
free to join the circle.
Floating lanterns are also
known as toro nagashi. Inside
each lantern is a candle that will
eventually burn out, and the
lantern will float down a river that
runs into the ocean. When a family
does this, they are sending off their
ancestor’s spirits into the sky.
On the last day, families return
the ancestors’ spirits back to the
grave. They do this by hanging the
chochin lanterns, painted with the
family crest, to guide their souls to
the eternal resting place. During
Obon, the smell of senko incense
fields fills the Japanese home and
their cemeteries. The festival is
a meaningful one but not a sad
one. It represents the union and
separation of ancestors spirits. In
addition to that, these three days is
a day for them to remember who
they lost.
Attribution: PBC Parks & Recreation on Flickr
THE SYNERGY PROJECT MAGAZINE
05