When I read about this article about the Bon Odori festival being celebrated here, I remembered that a colleague attended this celebration several years ago. She enjoyed it very much.
THE Bon Odori festival has captured the hearts of Malaysians with the crowd growing yearly. Some 30,000 are expected at the event on July 14, which is held for the 31st year here. (Pandabonium, I quoted only 10,000 in your post. Oops!)
“Bon Odori is summer time. Well, the chief purpose of the festival is not only to remember one’s deceased relatives but it is also meant to be a joyful time, celebrating and bringing family members together,” Japan Club of Kuala Lumpur Bon Odori organising vice-chairman Natsuhiko Kato said.
“It is a festival to honour the ancestral spirits who returned to his or her earthly home,” he added.
“It is a beautiful festival that is celebrated throughout the land of the rising sun. Over here in Selangor, the festival has taken a twist as it has turned into a great get-together,” he said.
“We encourage parents to bring their children as it will allow the young ones to understand and get a feel of the Japanese culture. At the same time it will be good as we want to celebrate 50 years of friendship with Malaysia,” he said.
“While you are there, just join in the dance that goes in circles around the yagura - a raised platform where the drums are placed. Wear simple, loose clothes and flat-heeled canvass shoes for comfort and appropriate when taking part in the dance,” he said.
Kato added that besides taking part in the dance, those who come also get to savour Japanese food such as kaki gori (Japanese ais-kacang), oni giri (rice balls), fried rice, fried noodles and ice cream.
Source: The Star
Pandabonium has a great post on Bon Odori. Read and see how it is being celebrated in Japan.
You are behind time. This is end of August already.
ReplyDeleteKS, that's okay by me lah. Better late than never in this case. Besides, my intent is to draw attention to PandaB's post which I thoroughly enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteGee...I wish MY neighborhood still held a Bon Festival.
ReplyDeleteOur local PTA decided it was too much trouble a few years ago, canceled it, and it hasn't been held since.
Holding a neighbourhood activity like that or even one for the school could be a logistical nightmare. After witnessing the national parade on tv last week, I could imagine the sleepless nights the organizers had to go through. And last weekend I was at a mall and witnessed a kindergarten concert. That too must have caused some anguish for the headmistress and her staff. Perhaps, anguish didn't quite come close. It wasn't Moulin Rouge but I thought the whole affair went very well. Kudos to the organizers - considering there were kids as young as two and a half.
ReplyDelete