![the bon dance the bon dance](https://jikoenhongwanji.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/08/bon_dance_silence_vid_2018.jpg)
There will be twelve Bon Dances starting June 4 and ending on August 27. Everyone is welcome and there’s no cost to admission. The circular dances take place around an outdoor yagura platform.Īs part of Obon festivities, you’ll also find traditional Japanese food booths, crafts, and more.ĭon’t be shy – come one, come all and enjoy Bon Dance in Hawaii.
![the bon dance the bon dance](https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events3/banners/1b53bfc4d6fdf8e8e4dc9d341ce4e61a541b0064c90a9c8e7a17de5f8e01a706-rimg-w960-h485-gmir.jpg)
Many dancers wear traditional kimonos, but that isn’t a requirement, and newcomers are most welcome. Enjoy watching the dance participants, listening to musicians including the taiko drummers, and seeing hundreds of beautiful hanging lamps. Everyone is invited to attend and take part in the festival. In Hawaii, each of the islands has outdoor Bon Dance celebrations at the local Hongwanji (Buddhist temple). At the end of Obon season, floating lanterns are put into rivers, lakes, and seas to guide the spirits back into their world. And with the return comes a very special 5-day festival on Kauai, that we plan to attend.īon Dance in Hawaii takes place during the summer months, which are considered when spirits of ancestors return to be with family and friends.
![the bon dance the bon dance](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6SgmlRG2IQA/maxresdefault.jpg)
This is the first year that’ll see the return of Bon Dance, following a two-year, first-ever hiatus. So come on down, real Bon Dance Hawaii is returning! It can translate to mean The Lantern Festival or The Festival of the Dead and is a celebration of life. The word “bon” (ぼん or 盆) means eblantern, the “o” (お) can be like an honorific. This Japanese Buddhist tradition to honor the spirits of ancestors has been going on for over 500 years. Bon Dance (or more technically, Obon) takes place worldwide. “Visiting these stalls with friends is a means of feeling cool, or noryo, for children,” the description adds.If your Hawaii vacation is between June and August, this year or any year, don’t miss one of our favorite Hawaii festivals. “There are also many big Bon Odori festivals held in bustling areas with many stalls selling sweets, shaved ice, masks of anime characters and other items, or operating kids’ games with prizes. “Originally, the dance was part of a ceremony to honour the spirits of ancestors, but today each community holds Bon Odori for two or three evenings in summer to foster togetherness among the townsfolk. The dance area is lit with numerous lanterns and people dance to the sound of taiko, or traditional Japanese drums, and to the tune of folk songs,” reads the description. “At the centre of the circle, there is a high wooden stage called a yagura. “People, young and old, form a big circle in a large open space and dance the evening away. The Selangor government will now consult the relevant authorities on the status of the Bon Odori festival which was claimed to have religious elements.Īccording to the Web Japan website, run by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, the Bon Odori festival - in brief - is described as “another timeless Japanese summer tradition.” This year's Bon Odori festival also made the news on June 6 when Datuk Idris Ahmad, the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs), advised Muslims not to participate in the upcoming festival as it contains elements of other religions, based on a study conducted by the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim). It has now grown into a much-awaited annual event of about 35,000 participants each year," reads a brief description on The Japan Club of Kuala Lumpur website.Ī publicity poster for the upcoming Bon Odori event in Shah Alam on July 16. "This event started out as a small affair for Japanese expatriates to immerse their children in Japanese culture in 1977. The 46th Bon Odori festival this year is jointly organised by The Japan Club of Kuala Lumpur, The Japanese School of Kuala Lumpur and Embassy of Japan, in cooperation with Alumni Look East Policy Society (ALEPS), Japan Graduates Association of Malaysia (JAGAM), The Japanese Chamber of Trade and Industry Malaysia (JACTIM) and Tourism Selangor Sdn Bhd. ALSO READ: Muslims advised not to participate in Bon Odori fest