Valley of the Temples Memorial Park will host an Obon Festival for the public from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Byodo-In Temple as its way to honor Japanese heritage, complete with a prize drawing for a trip to Japan.<\/p>\n
The second annual event begins with a ceremony, going back to seventh-century Japan, that calls upon the spirits of ancestors by burning incense and offering a prayer. It concludes when spirits are symbolically guided back to the world of the deceased with illuminated lotus water lanterns lighting their way.<\/p>\n
In between will be taiko drums, martial arts, a Dharma talk and opera, folk songs and drawings, classical Japanese music and Okinawan bon dancing. Keiki activities are planned, and food and shave ice will be available for purchase. The drawing for two round-trip tickets to Japan will take place during the festival, courtesy of the cemetery, which is located on Kahekili Highway, across from Koolau Center in Ahuimanu Valley.<\/p>\n
For more information, call 239-8811.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Valley of the Temples Memorial Park will host an Obon Festival for the public from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[111],"tags":[6833],"class_list":["post-41934","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-windward-oahu-news","tag-obon-festival"],"yoast_head":"\n