Obon - Japan's Festival of The Dead (Part 1)

Odd things happen when you invite the Spirits to come back from the Land of the Dead. In Kyoto, they light ten thousand candles in the local cemetery to help them find their way.

Obon is a three-day Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the spirits of the ancestors. It is celebrated throughout Japan - typically in August (Tokyo's Obon takes place in July).

Obon begins with the preparation of home altars and family graves. Buddhist priests move from home to home, chanting sutras for the deceased. Small fires are built on doorsteps to help the spirits find their way back from the Land of the Dead. A huge family meal ensues - similar to America's Thanksgiving. Although the premise is serious, the holiday is a happy one, with family members traveling long distances (transportation networks are often overwhelmed) to get home in time to celebration the spirits and each other.

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Category: Travel