Bon Festival
| Bon Festival | |
|---|---|
| File:Bon Odori.jpg Bon Odori dance during the Bon Festival | |
| Observed by | Japan |
| Type | Buddhist |
| Significance | Honoring the spirits of ancestors |
| Date | 13th to 16th of August (or July in some regions) |
| Frequency | Annual |
The Bon Festival (Japanese: お盆
, Obon) is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the spirits of one's ancestors. This Buddhist-Confucian custom has evolved into a family reunion holiday during which people return to ancestral family places and visit and clean their ancestors' graves. It has been celebrated in Japan for more than 500 years and traditionally includes a dance, known as Bon Odori.
History[edit | edit source]
The Bon Festival originates from the Buddhist Ullambana Sutra, which describes how Maha Maudgalyayana, a disciple of the Buddha, sought to relieve his deceased mother from the Realm of Hungry Ghosts. The Buddha instructed him to make offerings to Buddhist monks, which he did, and his mother was released. This story led to the tradition of making offerings to the spirits of ancestors.
Customs[edit | edit source]
During the Bon Festival, it is believed that the spirits of ancestors return to this world to visit their relatives. To guide the spirits, people hang lanterns in front of their houses, and mukaebi (welcoming fires) are lit. At the end of the festival, okuribi (farewell fires) are lit to send the spirits back to the afterlife.
Bon Odori[edit | edit source]
Bon Odori is a traditional dance performed during the Bon Festival. The dance varies from region to region, but it generally involves people dancing in a circle around a high wooden scaffold called a yagura. The dance is accompanied by traditional music and is a way to welcome the spirits of the dead.
Food Offerings[edit | edit source]
Families prepare special foods as offerings to the spirits of their ancestors. These offerings are placed on a butsudan (Buddhist altar) in the home. Common offerings include seasonal fruits, vegetables, and sweets.
Regional Variations[edit | edit source]
The Bon Festival is celebrated at different times in different regions of Japan. In most of the country, it is observed from August 13 to 16, but in some areas, it is celebrated in mid-July. The timing depends on whether the region follows the solar or lunar calendar.
Also see[edit | edit source]
| Part of a series on |
| Buddhism |
|---|
 |
|
|
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
