Every year on August 13 to 16,japan will celebrate its Obonお盆(por tor or cheng beng).
They will pray to their dead ancesters on these days and offering will be done.,as shown on the photo.On august 13th,the japanese people will start the obon by visiting the graves of their ancesters and call their spirits home.

In my house,our way of praying will start on august 13th,evening..we will light some special woods(chopped into small sizes) at the front entrance of the house.
It is believed to guide the dead ancesters home,as the japanese believes.This is called "mukai bon".There will also be a paper lantern with revolving lights near the altar.

The japanese also use special praying things like cucumber and egg plants with wooden chopstick stuck into them to represent horses to carry the dead ancesters back.

On the 16th august,they will carry a bit of these things and carry a small lantern to a river side to sent off their dead ancesters.
Nowadays,it is not allow to do this anymore as they will pollute the river,so the japanese usually bring these things to a near by shrine and burn them.
Bon Odori festival is also held at night and on the eve of the bon odori,fireworks will be on and also a special moh chee throwing ceremony will be held.Inside some some of these moh chee(rice cakes)..contains a piece of paper with numbers in them,so if we are lucky,we will be able to get a prize.
This ceremony is held in my area..maybe in other area..there are other ways of cerebrating bon odori.
Well,tonitght..my kids and I will be attending our bon odori..and dance ...hehehe..

18 comments:

amycheah said...

wow! must be very lau juak huh tonite eh ceremony...hope u and ur kids enjoy it much much yah!

jepunlauee said...

ya..dance my A-go-go there...hahahaha..

9PEK9BO said...

Very interesting & informative post. Looking forward to more from you. I got fascinated with Japanese culture since my visits there many years ago.

Anonymous said...

i have always been curious about the cucmber and brinjal thing. now i know. thanks for sharing. japanese culture is always eye opening.

-siao cha bor-

jepunlauee said...

reply to 9pek9bo:I do once in a while write about japanese culture as I stay here..will write more..later..
reply to siao char bor:you are welcome..hehe..will write more..if you have any request..hahahaaa..

Eddie Wong said...

Penang also always celebrate every year.....i took some photos during the celebrations http://eddiewong-photography.blogspot.com.

wakakaka

jepunlauee said...

okok..thks eddie..will go and see...heheh..

K3ViN said...

Wah really a special event.... Hope u can post this kind of information more so we know abt it :P

jepunlauee said...

sure..no probelm..taugeh!!!

Xiao-Kia said...

got any special wearing eh bo? Really special lo.. Is just like our "Tua pek Kong" or "Tai Su Ea" ?

Reanaclaire said...

oh ..japs cheng beng is like that.. got dance some more.. at least it is not so eerie as in Malaysia.. :)

jepunlauee said...

ya...not eerie...more to enjoy themselves rather than for the remembrance of the dead..hahahah

Dora said...

Hi Jepunlauee,

I've attended Bon Odori held by Matsushita co. during my school days, it's quite a colorful event.

Sorry for not visiting ur place for such a long time. I've added u in my own domain now. cheers... :-)

wenn said...

hi, interesting post..

jepunlauee said...

thks Dora...hehe...
tks wenn for visiting my blog..

fufu said...

miss obondori much ><

jepunlauee said...

dun't worry..there's always one next year..hehehe..

Kikey Loo said...

his first picture is it the way you praying? so special leh..