Obon Fest: Orange County Buddhist Church

Orange County Buddhist Church (ocbuddhist.org)

Obon festivities (lifetourist79)

Obon is a Japanese Buddhist celebration honoring the dead. Zen tradition holds that Obon season, much like the West's Halloween or All Hallow's Eve, means a thinner veil between the worlds. Hungry ghosts (pretas) are appeased and fed, ancestors are honored, and respect is given to all who have passed. The celebration in the human world within the precincts of a Zen temple are joyous. There is line dancing (Obon Odori), feasting, and merriment. This past weekend was celebrated in Altadena at the large Japanese cultural center on Glen Ave. An even larger even is planned for the Asian Buddhist community of Orange County. All are welcome to participate in tea ceremonies, Taiko drumming, games and prizes, and an introduction to Japanese Buddhism. More

• Orange County Buddhist Church
• Saturday and Sunday, July 21-22, 2012
• 909 South Dale Ave., Anaheim, CA 9280
• (714) 827-9590

Buddhist temples reach out: Obon Festival

Buddhist temples reach out with Obon Festival
Eleanor Yang Su (SignOnSanDiego.com, July 26, 2009)

VISTA, California — Members of the Vista Buddhist Temple rolled out the welcome mat at their annual Obon Festival yesterday with musical and dance performances, mush-room tastings, and a discus-sion on Buddhist teachings. The event, which continues today, is an annual celebration of ancestors and loved ones who have died. And that was very much on the minds of many, especially during the traditional Bon Odori dance. The temple's aging membership has dwindled to about 80 people in the past decade, and organizers are using events like the festival and new classes to reach out to spiritual seekers. More>>

PHOTOS: 1, 2: Vista Buddhist Temple, 150 Cedar Road, San Diego, dance and Taiko drum performances, food, beverage booths, and shopping (townnews.com; nctimes.com); 3: Gardena, CA Obon festival (epicanthus.net)

2009 OBON (August 1) SCHEDULE

• Aug. 1-2—Gardena Buddhist Temple Obon Odori, 1517 W. 166th St., Gardena, CA 90247; (310) 327-9400; 3-10 p.m. Sat./2-9 p.m. Sun.
• Aug. 1—Buddhist Temple of San Diego Obon Odori, 2929 Market St., San Diego, CA 92102; (619) 239-0896: 5-9 p.m.
• Aug. 1—Oregon Buddhist Temple “Obonfest 2009,” 3720 SE 34th Ave., Portland, OR 97202; (503) 234-9456: 4-9 p.m.
• Aug. 1—San Luis Obispo Buddhist Temple Obon Odori, 6996 Ontario Rd., San Luis Obispo, CA 93405; (805)-595-2625: 1-9 p.m.
• Aug. 1—Hawaii Waialua Hongwanji Temple Obon, 67-313 Kealohanui St., Waialua, HI 96791; (808) 637-4395: from 7:30 p.m.
• Aug. 1-2—Palo Alto Buddhist Temple Obon Odori, 2751 Louis Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94303; (650)856-0123: 5-11 p.m. Sat./noon-10 p.m. Sun. More>>

Obon: Utah Buddhists observe festival

Pamela Manson

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - For almost 100 years, Buddhism has been a part of Utah life. And on [7/11/09], the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple commemorated followers who have gone before with its annual Obon festival.

The temple, a Jodo Shinshu sect affiliated with the Buddhist Churches of America, displayed a small plaque for each member who had died in the past year. Flowers decorated the altar and incense was burned as an offering. The festival also included a Taiko drum performance, dancing, and food. The teachings of the sect, whose main temple is in Japan, are designed to help practitioners achieve enlightenment... More>>

Obon named plaques of the deceased displayed in a place of reverence near the "Onaijin" during the period of praying for the repose of the spirits of one's ancestors, 7/11/09 (Scott Sommerdorf/The Salt Lake Tribune).