 Dance instructor Ikuko Dodobara with dancers at White River Buddhist Temple’s Bon Odori |
For Buddhists, O-Bon is the time to reflect upon the dedicated lives of departed ancestors. To celebrate, Bon Odori is a festival in which the young and old come together to dance, rejoice, and remember their ancestors, family, and friends.
Participants at the White River Buddhist Temple’s Bon Odori wore brightly colored kimonos, yukatas, and happi coats as they danced to traditional music. There was a children’s lantern parade, odori dancing, and a taiko drum performance. ♦