Japanese Buddhist Obon Festival Honors the Departed

By Christina Belasco

Published August 2, 2015 at 1:11 PM PDT

Members and friends of Oregon's Japanese Buddhist community gathered to celebrate the traditional Obon Festival at the in Portland. The festival is a special custom that takes place annually to honor the spirits of one's ancestors.

Obon typically lasts about three days in Japan, and though today's event was just one day, it was filled with dancing, food, laughter and reflection.

The event was split in two areas outside and inside the temple. Outside, there was a large center for traditional dancing and drumming acts that were surrounded by a perimeter of food vendors and seating areas for the audience. Volunteers with the temple gave tours and held talks about the religion during performance breaks.

Organizers say one of the most important parts of Obon is a dance called Bon Odori. It is a folk dance that welcomes the spirits of the departed. Sahome Tachibana choreographed this year's dance and has been doing so in New York and Oregon for 66 years. She noted the profound growth of celebrating the Obon festival in the United States.

"I think it's more popular in the states than it is in Japan, because people don't go to temple as often in Japan. It's like a festival here, so more people come," said Tachibana.

The first recorded Bon Odori in the U.S. was held in San Francisco in 1931 and has expanded greatly. The Oregon Buddhist Temple was founded in 1903 and follows Jodu Shinshu Buddhism.

<p>The Obon Festival took place on Saturday, August 1, 2015.</p> — The Obon Festival took place on Saturday, August 1, 2015.

<p>Community members gathered in Portland's Buddhist Temple to learn about the religion and event.</p> — Community members gathered in Portland's Buddhist Temple to learn about the religion and event.

<p>Lanterns that symbolize ancestral spirits waved in the sky. The Obon Festival is about paying homage to loved ones who have passed away.</p> — Lanterns that symbolize ancestral spirits waved in the sky. The Obon Festival is about paying homage to loved ones who have passed away.

<p>Portland's Taiko group gave a performance outside. Temperatures reached over 100 degrees.</p> — Portland's Taiko group gave a performance outside. Temperatures reached over 100 degrees.

<p>Women sold Kimonos in the temple's basement.</p> — Women sold Kimonos in the temple's basement.

<p>Performers danced at the event. </p> — Performers danced at the event.

<p>The most important dance of the festival, the Bon Odori, was performed last in the evening.</p> — The most important dance of the festival, the Bon Odori, was performed last in the evening.