Obon Festival

By Sheeba Muskaan

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“Travel and find serenity in the cultures of the universe”

Experience the Buddhism culture at its finest during Obon Festival. It is celebrated in Japan during August for three days. This festival dates back to more than 500 years where all the families revisit and get together with their families to honour their deceased ancestors. It is believed that spirits of ancestors visit houses hence every house is lit with a lantern to welcome the spirit. Families also visit graves and clean it. Obon festival is valued immensely for its cultural and spiritual impressiveness.

This ritual started first in India and then spread to other parts of Asia. The main aim of this festival is to free spirits from their pain and ‘Obon’ is a Japanese word which means to ‘hang upside down’. Apart from hanging lanterns at house alters to guide spirits back home, families also keep some offerings at their doors. Once the festival is over, the lanterns are released in the nearest water bodies, hence giving the most perfect eye-catchy scenic view.

The most extravagant sight of these three days is Bon Odori which is a folk dance and the most pleasing dance of Japan. Each region of Japan has different forms of dance to welcome spirits. Each dance form is based on the history of that particular region; one of their famous dance forms is the movement of pushing carts and others like mining and so on. One must visit Japan to see this most laid-back yet happening occasion. Dance is explicitly every tourist’s highlight while travelling as it teaches you graceful traditional moves and grooving to this clearly relaxes the body and makes it a splendid getaway.

If you’re looking to experience an all-night dance party, one should definitely attend the Gujo Odori festival held in Gifu where all are welcomed to participate and dance that takes place for 32 nights. The first day of the festival is called Mukaebi that is lighting up lanterns. Further the festival continues with rituals that include offering prayers at temples, cleaning homes and making delicious traditional meals. The last day is called Okuribi and ends with lighting of bonfires at night.

Today Obon festival is celebrated throughout the world among Japanese communities. However one travelling to Japan during this festival will see the place highest populated since all families get together but nevertheless there are few places known exclusively for foreign travellers to experience this solitary culture. One can experience this serene festival in Japan and light up their souls during this enchanted fete.

“Serenity lies in travelling”