Bon Odori is the annual festival to express our gratitude to our ancestors and the joy in the Truth of Life..
The chochin lanterns will hang above our temple parking lot. The cars will be gone, replaced with a ring of chairs, a stage for a taiko drum. And as nighttime falls, we will fill the lot to dance Japanese folk dances and honor loved ones who have passed before us. It’s the Bon Odori, celebrating Obon, one of the most colorful of the Buddhist observances which dates back 1500 years.
Everyone is welcome to dance at the festival. Although you don’t need to know the dances to participate, anyone wishing to learn before the festival can attend open practices led by the MBT Minyo group.