The Bon Odori Festival (Japanese Hungry Ghost) | Food, travel, recipe & sights

The Bon Odori Festival (Japanese Hungry Ghost)

I just attended an annual festival organised by the Malaysian Japanese Society in Penang. It is a big carnival with stage shows by the Japanese expatriates in Malaysia, fireworks, food and game stalls and other attractions.

It is held at the Esplanade. This is the Penang Municipal Council building. It is a colonial building which is very impressive. Huge, white massive structure with lights.

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Japanese expatriates, young and old took part in the festival. All of them dressed up in their Japanese costumes.

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These are rush jobs photo sizing. If I am free, probably, I will upload nicer photos. There is a festive atmosphere where the dancers engage the spectators to dance along.

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The event is from 5pm just now until 10 pm (abt time of blogging). It ended with a firework. Actually, we had left the venue before the fireworks. This photo is taken in Penang Road, which is a distance away from the Bon Odori venue.

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Once again, Penang Faces have brought to you events in Penang ‘live’. If you would like to know more about Bon Odori, you can go to this website and read.

I have pasted some interesting background about Bon Odori. It is almost similar to the Chinese Taoist celebrations of the Hungry Ghost Festival. (which will be celebrated in August)

The Feast of Lanterns, better known as the ‘Bon’ or ‘Urabon’ festival is a traditional Japanese Buddhist celebration dedicated to the spirits of ancestors and deceased loved ones. Dating back to the late Heian (794 - 1185) and Kamakura (1185 - 1333) period, the festival is celebrated on the 15th of July according to the lunar calendar. It is said that during this time of year, the lid of the iron pot of hell is lifted to allow spirits to return home and to be among the living. To guide the spirit of a deceased loved one home it is customary in Japan to adorn one’s house with lanterns. Food is also laid out and prayers are made at temples or privately at home for the departed.

Source

Posted by on July 16th, 2005 under Festivals & Religious

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No Responses to “The Bon Odori Festival (Japanese Hungry Ghost)”

  1. boo_licious Says:
    July 16th, 2005 at 10:11 pm

    Wow, better coverage than the Star! Every year I tell myself I must go but we always decide otherwise at the last minute as it’s always so crowded. Sigh! Never mind, console myself that I can see the festival from your pixs.

  2. Makan Kings Says:
    July 17th, 2005 at 12:43 am

    Lillian,

    Wow! Seems like quite a big celebration. Penang must have quite a large population of Japanese. Any yummy
    Japanese food on offer??

    Cheers,
    -Makan Kings-

  3. Lee Wye Jon Says:
    July 17th, 2005 at 1:22 am

    hmm… even better than the one I just went to in Shah Alam… sigh.

  4. Lrong Says:
    July 17th, 2005 at 5:45 pm

    Summers are incomplete without the Bon Odori for the Japanese… but am not aware of the Chinese dancing and celebrating like them during the Hungry Ghosts season…

  5. Kiasu Bookworm Says:
    July 18th, 2005 at 12:52 am

    Hah! I went to the Bon Odori too!

    Didn’t get pics as good as yours tho. How did you get close enough? DId you dance?

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