For over 500 years, Japanese tradition has celebrated the annual Buddhist vacation of Obon (お盆). Through the historically three-day occasion, individuals honor their ancestors, whose spirits are believed to return to this world annually to go to their dwelling relations.
Whereas modern-day celebrations of Obon have turn out to be synonymous with dancing, household reunions and consumption of cultural meals, Obon has an extended historic and religious significance to Japan. Believed to have originated in India after which later unfold all through Asia, Obon festivities mirror the story of a disciple of Buddha. Within the unique story, the disciple makes use of supernatural powers to contact the spirit of his deceased mom. When he finds her within the “Realm of Hungry Ghosts,” the disciple seeks Buddha’s assist to save lots of her from a destiny of insatiable starvation. By Buddha’s instruction, the disciple ready choices of meals and lanterns for touring Buddhist monks. Upon doing so, his mom’s spirit was freed.
Historically, Japanese individuals cling lanterns in entrance of their homes to information their ancestors’ spirits, carry out Bon Odori (Japanese folks dances), hearken to taiko (the artwork of Japanese drumming), go to and clear their ancestors’ graves and make meals choices at their house altars. On the finish of the three-day celebration, floating lanterns are launched into our bodies of water to information the spirits again to the realm of the deceased.
In accordance with the lunar calendar, Obon roughly corresponds with the center of August. Due to this fact, in Japan, Obon is principally noticed from August 13-16 and is taken into account certainly one of Japan’s three main vacation seasons alongside Golden Week and New 12 months’s. Nevertheless, in keeping with the photo voltaic calendar, Obon falls a month earlier, which means that in different celebrating nations like the US, Obon is commonly noticed throughout the center of July. Moreover, in China and Vietnam, the same celebration takes place by the title of the Hungry Ghost Competition. Obon festivals additionally happen in Malaysia and Korea, although additionally by completely different names.
This yr, I attended one of many largest Obon celebrations within the U.S.: the 2023 West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple Annual Summer season Obon Competition. Halted after the pandemic, the 2023 Obon was the primary of its sort in 4 years. Enthusiastically welcomed again by the Japanese-American group of Los Angeles, this yr’s Obon was a energetic expertise.
The occasion effortlessly synthesized conventional parts of Obon with extra modern parts that celebrated the local people. For instance, I attended a tea ceremony demonstration, through which the ceremony grasp adopted the Zen Buddhist custom of rigorously making ready cups of matcha in keeping with longstanding choreography. Together with the tea, we had been introduced with a small mochi confection topped with a candy gelatin layer and fish decal. Personally, I really like the chewy, starchy and subtly candy taste of mochi. Unsweetened matcha, then again … not for me.
After the tea ceremony, I toured the panel of cubicles manned by completely different fundraising group teams. There was all kinds: ring toss, a fishbowl-throwing recreation with dwell goldfish as prizes, muffin pan Moneyball (a type of horizontal pachinko), seasonal fruit and veggies and occasion merchandise. As well as, the West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple kitchen cooked up some Japanese favorites, together with gyoza, curry rice, chili scorching canine rice (regardless of sounding comparatively unappetizing, my boyfriend claims it is a beloved Japanese-American staple), onigiri, shaved ice and teriyaki hen bowls. The gyoza, crammed with floor pork, seasonings and chopped cabbage, was steamed to perfection. A aspect of pickled cabbage additionally offered a pointy zing to pleasantly distinction with the umami gyoza filling. I additionally tried the chili scorching canine rice, which, whereas easy, introduced a fancy taste profile that transcended cultural borders. The mixture of chili, which is imagined to have Texan-Mexican origins, and scorching canine, a distinctly American delicacies, served at a Japanese competition threw my tastebuds for a loop in a surprisingly agreeable approach.
The perfect a part of the night time (which might have been bingo, had I really received something and never wasted $10 on playing cards) was the Bon Odori. Within the out of doors courtyard, massive, concentric circles marked in chalk indicated lanes through which to bop. All individuals lined up in a lane, the taiko drums began and the dancing proceeded ahead slowly in a counterclockwise movement. Having no prior observe with Japanese folks dancing, the Bon Odori circle was daunting at first. Nevertheless, I used to be inspired to easily soar in and mimic the particular person in entrance of me. The actions had been easy and repeated often, making Bon Odori actions straightforward to select up and ideal for all age teams. It was rhythmic, soothing and extremely pleasurable.
Anybody who needs to take part in an upcoming Obon ceremony can Google their native Buddhist temple’s occasion listing. For UC Santa Barbara college students, the Buddhist Church of Santa Barbara is internet hosting Obon on August 12. San Luis Obispo (SLO) additionally presents an Obon celebration on the SLO Buddhist Church on August 5. I extremely advocate attending for anybody eager about Japanese meals and tradition!