Obon Festival Begins

The Buddhist Obon Festival has been celebrated for more than 500 years. It originates from the story of Maha Maudgalyayana, Mokuren, a disciple of Buddha who used his powers to see the spirit of his deceased mother.

Obon, or just Bon, is a Japanese Buddhist custom, which honours the spirits of one’s ancestors. Over the years, it has evolved into a holiday for family reunions. People return to their ancestral family places to visit and clean their ancestors’ graves. During the three-day festival, it is said that the spirits of ancestors visit household altars and many perform the traditional dance, known as the Bon-Odori.

To honour the essence of this festival, we have various immersive programs available that celebrate authentic Japanese culture:

• Japanese Calligraphy (VIC)
• Japanese Ink Painting (VIC)
• Taiko Drumming (VIC, NSW, QLD)

In addition, our Japanese Infusion program (NSW) introduces students of all ages to Japanese culture through a mixture of song and dance, storytelling and art.

See our full list of programs here.

Contact us to make a booking today.