What is the Obon Festival? Inside the Japanese Buddhist tradition that honors ancestors

Many countries hold festivals to celebrate their deceased loved ones. The Obon Festival is a 500-year-old Japanese tradition that honors ancestors and is celebrated across the country

Lanterns are used to honor ancestors in the Japanese Buddhist festival - Odon (

Image: Reuters)

The Japanese Obon Festival is celebrated starting today, Saturday, August 13. The annual Buddhist festival is celebrated throughout the country of Japan.

National Day is used to celebrate the connection between living and past ancestors.

It is a tradition that is over 500 years old and is observed on the seventh month of the year.

The date of the celebration is based on the lunar calendar, which differs each year. However, this usually happens between August and September.

According to the solar calendar, it is July, but according to the lunar calendar,

The official dates for the festival this year are August 13-15, although some years it is celebrated in September.

What is the festival all about and why is it celebrated? Here's everything you need to know.

What is the Obon Festival and how is it celebrated?

Floating lanterns are increasingly common at the Obon Festival (

Picture:

AFP/Getty Images)

Obon is one of the most important annual festivals in Japan and takes place in the summer.

It is based on the Buddhist belief that the spirits of ancestors return to their family home at this time of year.

It dates back around five centuries and has its roots in the Nembutsu Odori, a Buddhist ritual that involves dancing and chanting.

Today, Bon Odori dances entertain the festival and preserve a tradition that has been practiced for centuries.

The first day of the Obon festival is celebrated with chochin lanterns.

Families bring the lanterns to the graves of deceased relatives for the purpose of calling their ancestors home. This ritual is called mukae-bon.

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