August 14,2016
The several days when I walk around the city, I will see the white lantern in front of house. I feel interesting so much, I will search information about the white lantern and finally I find it. This time is Obon festival. The Obon festival is time period in 13-16 August in every year which Japanese believe that ancestors who pass away will turn to their home and Japanese people who are family will prepare food and flowers for welcome the ancestor’s spirit who came back in Obon festival. Obon festival have the legend that told about the story of Maha Maudgalyayana (Mokuren), a disciple of the Buddha, who used his supernatural powers to look upon his deceased mother. He discovered she had fallen into the Realm of Hungry Ghosts and was suffering. Greatly disturbed, he went to the Buddha and asked how he could release his mother from this realm. Buddha instructed him to make offerings to the many Buddhist monks who had just completed their summer retreat, on the fifteenth day of the seventh month. The disciple did this and, thus, saw his mother’s release. He also began to see the true nature of her past selflessness and the many sacrifices that she had made for him. The disciple, happy because of his mother’s release and grateful for his mother’s kindness, danced with joy. From this dance of joy comes Bon Odori or “Bon Dance”, a time in which ancestors and their sacrifices are remembered and appreciated.
The first day in Obon festival (13 August) Japanese will bring stalk of hashish overlay and fire that call “Ongara” for the light welcome. They believe that the smoke of stalk of hashish which fired can help the ancestor’s spirit don’t loss way back to their home. In the second and third day (14-15 August) is time for everyone in family will clean up their home together also prepare food and flower for offer sacrifice the spirit of ancestors. The last day in Obon festival will have stalk of hashish overlay and fire it again for guide the ancestor’s spirit to the next world. In the festival will have the tradition dance that called Bon Odori or “Bon Dance” for celebration about returning of ancestor’s spirit. For the white lantern which I saw in front house is symbol about It the first time of Obon festival of these family or This family just have someone passed away. However, this festival made me think about the tradition in Thailand that called “Sart-Jeen” or The Ghost Festival which tradition of Thai-Chinese people, It have in August of every year. This festival have the same legend of Obon festival, so I think it’s the same festival but we called difference also in Thailand have one day for this festival, it unlike festival in Japan. Finally, I think this festival is the good festival because it can teach children and everyone about gratitude also encourage everyone in family spend the time together. So, this is one of festival which I hope people should realize the important of festival and preserve the good tradition in this festival.
Obon Festival : Day19
