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