Hawaii Obon Season Is Underway
Jun 12th, 2008 | By admin | Category: Featured ArticlesThe Bon Dance Season is underway in Hawaii. (?, Bon?) is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the departed (deceased) spirits of one’s ancestors. This Buddhist 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 existed in Japan for more than 500 years and traditionally includes a dance, known as Bon-Odori.
The festival of Obon lasts for three days; however its starting date varies within different regions of Japan. When the lunar calendar was changed to the solar calendar in the beginning of the Meiji era, the localities in Japan reacted differently and this resulted in three different times of Obon. “Shichigatsu Bon” (Bon in July) is based on the solar calendar and is celebrated around the 15th of July in areas such as Tokyo, Yokohama and Tohoku region. “Hachigatsu Bon” (Bon in August) is based on the solar calendar, is celebrated around the 15th of August and is the most commonly celebrated time. “Kyu Bon” (Old Bon) is celebrated on the 15th day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar, and so differs each year. “Kyu Bon” is celebrated in areas like the northern part of the Kant? region, Ch?goku, Shikoku, Ky?sh? and the Southwestern islands. These three days are not listed as public holidays but it is customary that people are given leave.[1]
Obon is a shortened form of the legendary Urabonne/Urabanna (Japanese: ???? or ????, urabon’e). It is Sanskrit for “hanging upside down” and implies great suffering[2](Sanskrit:Ullambana). The Japanese believe they should ameliorate the suffering of the “Urabanna”.
Bon Odori originates from the story of 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.[3] 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 priests 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 unselfishness 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. See also: Ullambana Sutra.
As Obon occurs in the heat of the summer, participants traditionally wear yukata, or light cotton kimonos. Many Obon celebrations include a huge carnival with rides, games, and summer festival food like watermelon.[4]
The festival ends with Toro Nagashi , or the floating of lanterns. Paper lanterns are illuminated and then floated down rivers symbolically signaling the ancestral spirits’ return to the world of the dead. This ceremony usually culminates in a fireworks display.
Source: wikipedia
Upcoming Bon Dances for Hawai’i 2008
HONOLULU
June 27-28: Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin/ 6:30pm/ 536-7044
July 4-5: Moiliili Hongwanji Buddhist Temple/ 7:15pm/ 949-1659
July 19: Kailua Hongwanji Buddhist Temple/ 7:00pm/ 262-4560
July 25-26: Jikoen Hongwanji Buddhist Temple/ 6:30pm/ 845-3422
OAHU
June 21: Ewa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple/ 7:00pm/ 677-4221
June 27-28: Wahiawa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple/ 7:30pm/ 622-4320
July 11-12: Waipahu Hongwanji Buddhist Temple/ 7:30pm/ 677-4221
July 19: Kahuku Hongwanji Buddhist Temple/ 7:30pm/ 677-4221
July 26: Waianae Hongwanji Buddhist Temple/ 7:00pm/ 622-4320
August 2: Waialua Hongwanji Buddhist Temple/ 7:30pm/ 625-0925
August 8-9: Pearl City Hongwanji Buddhist Temple/ 7:30pm/ 455-1680
August 15-16: Mililani Hongwanji Buddhist Temple/ 7:30pm/ 625-0925
August 23: Aiea Hongwanji Buddhist Temple/ 7:00pm/ 488-5685
KAUAI
June 6-7: West Kauai Hongwanji Hanapepe Temple/ 7:30pm/ 338-1537
June 13-14: Lihue Hongwanji Buddhist Temple/ 7:45pm/ 245-6262
July 4-5 : West Kauai Hongwanji Waimea Temple/ 7:30pm/ 338-1537
July 11-12: Kapaa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple/ 7:30pm/ 822-4667
July 25-26: West Kauai Hongwanji Koloa Temple/ 7:30pm/ 338-1537
MAUI
June 27-28: Lahaina Hongwanji Buddhist Temple/ 7:30pm/ 661-0640
July 12: Lanai Hongwanji Buddhist Temple/ 7:00pm/ 572-7229
July 18-19: Kahului Hongwanji Buddhist Temple/ 8:00pm/ 871-4732
July 25-26: Makawao Hongwanji Buddhist Temple/ 7:30pm/ 572-7229
August 1-2: Wailuku Hongwanji Buddhist Temple/ 8:00pm/ 244-0406
HAWAII
June 21: Keahou Shopping Center (Kona Hong.)/ 4:00pm/ 323-2993
June 21: Papaioku Hongwanji Buddhist Temple/ 6:00pm/ 964-1640
June 28: Honomu Hongwanji Buddhist Temple/ 6:00pm/ 963-6032
July 4-5: Puna Hongwanji Buddhist Temple/ 6:00pm/ 966-9981
July 5: Keei Hongwanji Fukyojo (Kona Hong.)/ 5:00pm/ 323-2993
July 5: Kohala Hongwanji Buddhist Temple/ 6:00pm/ 775-7232
July 12: Paauilo Hongwanji Buddhist Temple/ 6:00pm/ 776-1369
July 11-12: Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin/ 6:00pm/ 961-6677
July 19: Honokaa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple/ 6:00pm/ 775-7232
July 26: Papaaloa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple/ 6:00pm/ 962-6340
July 26: Kona Hongwanji Buddhist Temple/ 6:00pm/ 323-2993
August 16: Kamuela Hongwanji Buddhist Temple/ 6:00pm/ 885-4481
August 23: Honohina Hongwanji Buddhist Temple/ 6:00pm/ 963-6032
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