Drummers at Obon Festival, Portland, Oregon, 1996

Title
Drummers at Obon Festival, Portland, Oregon, 1996
LC Subject
Festivals Ullambana Drummers (Musicians)
Local Collection ID
P345
Creator
Williams, Chuck, 1943-
Photographer
Williams, Chuck, 1943-
Description
Obon Festival is a Japanese Buddhist celebration held in the summer to honor one’s ancestors. According to a Buddhist legend, a disciple of Buddha had a meditative vision of his mother suffering in the World of Hungry Ghosts. Buddha instructed him to provide a feast for the monks returning from their retreats. After this act of kindness, his mother was released and danced for joy. To honor this story, participants in the festival take part in a Bon Odori (Obon dance), hang lanterns, visit memorials, and offer food. The first record of this celebration in the United States was in San Francisco in 1931. Since then, the festival has traveled along the west coast, and Portland was no exception. The Oregon Buddhist Temple annually hosts an Obon Festival where more experienced Bon Odori dancers lead groups in traditional dances. They also provide entertainment and vendors such as lion dancers. The emphasis is on ignoring ego and dancing for joy.
Work Type
color photographs photographs
Location
Portland >> Multnomah County >> Oregon >> United States
Date
1996
Identifier
p345:Obon-Festival-1996-03
Rights
In Copyright
License
Creative Commons: Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
Local Collection Name
Chuck Williams Photographs (P 345)
Type
Image
Format
image/tiff
Set
Chuck Williams Photographs Oregon Multicultural Archives OSU Special Collections & Archives Research Center
Primary Set
Chuck Williams Photographs
Institution
Oregon State University