Do you remember this scene of Mulan where Mushu, the funny dragon guardian, must capture all of Mulan's deceased relatives when they escape as ghostly spirits during the Hungry Ghost Festival? This is an annual Japanese holiday called Obon, which is a lively celebration in which ancestors' spirits are invited back for a visit. Obon is deeply rooted in Buddhist traditions dating back over 500 years.
The story goes that a devout disciple named Mokuren used some sweet spiritual powers to discover his dead mother suffering in the “Realm of Hungry Ghost”. Following Buddha's advice, he made offerings to monks, and his mum's spirit was freed. Overjoyed, Mokuren busted out some celebratory dance moves. During the celebration, Japanese families lay out the red carpet for their ancestral spirits in mid-August.
The greeting celebrations are easy to spot, colourful chochin lights line the streets to lead visitors, and food offerings are heaped high at altars and temples. Because even the dead need to eat, right? Some localities even start large bonfires to signify, "The ancestors are coming!"After a week of bonding with deceased loved ones at this ghostly banquet, it is time for the ancestors to return to the other side. As part of the sendoff rite, families use chochin lanterns to convey their guests' spirits to the tomb.
But in recent years, many have adopted the beautiful custom of setting floating lanterns adrift on rivers and lakes. As the flickering flames dance across the water's surface, it symbolically illuminates the path for ancestral spirits departing back into the sky. So, while Obon commemorates the deceased, it's definitely not a boring affair.
It's a lively, moving, and yes, slightly a strange reminder to cherish the loved ones we've lost - both those watching from the great beyond and the precious family surrounding us in the present. Just try not to be too scared if you feel a cold chill during the celebrations.
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