The annual Obon Festival will take place July 21 at the Watsonville Buddhist Temple.
Open to the public, the event will include entertainment, a vendor’s market, childrens’ games and an array of traditional foods.
The festival culminates in a dance, known as Bon-Odori, which participants practice for days in advance.
The dance is based on the story of Moggallāna, who asked the Buddha to release his deceased mother from the Realm of Hungry Ghosts, where greedy people go when they die.
The Buddha did, and Moggallāna danced with happiness, marking beginning of the Obon celebration.
Prepared foods include sushi, shish-kebabs, and udon (Japanese noodles).
For Buddhists, the Obon Festival is a time to honor deceased ancestors by inviting them back into their homes. Many consider it a time to honor past generations and their contributions to the living, organizers said.
Celebrated in Japan for hundreds of years, the festival is sometimes called the Festival of Lanterns.
Through time, the festival has evolved into a family reunion of sorts. Participants clean and decorate their homes, and prepare gifts of fruit and vegetables for their eventual visitors. They might also clean the graves of their ancestors.
The Obon Festival will be held at the Watsonville Buddhist Temple, 423 Bridge St. July 21 from noon 5:30pm
For information, call 724-7860.
