Since I was a college student, I have traveled and taken part in many Japanese obon festivals in California.
Obon is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the spirits of one’s ancestors. For over 500 years, this event has been celebrated and features a dance known as Bon-Odori.
For many states, the Obon Festival season has started. Obon according to Wikipedia is the 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, and when the spirits of ancestors are supposed to revisit the household altars. It has been celebrated in Japan for more than 500 years and traditionally includes a dance, known as Bon-Odori.
And Obon Festivals continue outside of Japan in areas with a large Japanese community, especially in the United States.
Throughout the month of June through August, you can check out various obon festivals celebrated throughout the country.
For Obon Festivals near you please visit this website.
Here are a photos from Obon Festivals which I have taken over the years:
