Obon..(japanese cheng beng)~~~

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..