Under a tropical night sky, dancers wearing summer kimonos move in a circle to the beat of Taiko drums. Attend this 500-year Japanese tradition that honors the spirits of ancestors. A Japanese proverb says, “The bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists.” Like the bamboo, we must bend and not break.”ġ. Hirata commented, “This is about the human spirit in difficult times. It can be used as a dress adornment, a decorative headband, or dance implement. The towel is also called tenugui, and is an iconic image of obon celebrations.
#THE BON DANCE PLUS#
You can support the event by making a donation or purchasing a Bon Dance towel for $5 plus shipping. Gerald Hirata, president of the Kaua‘i Soto Zen Temple Zenshuji, said “in order to continue honoring those values, we have to adapt accordingly, and find a way to continue these traditions.” This year the customs and traditions have been stymied with COVID-19. Bon Dance is a celebration of life held during Obon season which is when ancestral spirits return to visit. Kohtoku Hirao will be performing, and there will be some live dancers in the ring. The Soto Zen Temple Zenshuji in Hanapepe will be hosting a Bon Dance live on their Facebook page and YouTube live.Īccording to the Temple, this will be like a real Bon Dance with taiko drummers. This year the event goes virtual on August 22, from 5 to 6pm, Hawaiian Standard Time. Make Kauai Bon Dance your summer tradition next year when you stay at our Kauai vacation rentals.
We would like to offer our readers a 12% off their entire next order by using the coupon code: HappiCoat. There is some really great footage of the Bon Dance. I am including a link to Jean’s You Tube video.
The rich history of the Japanese culture in Hawaii has endowed our little North Shore town with a gift that I will always remember. Here in Hawaii, you don’t have to travel far from home to get a taste of the Eastern influence. It was a great time, and I walked away feeling richer from the experience. Their movements were so elegant and the music so enchanting! The musicians were so captivating and the drums almost hypnotic. There were so many others there trying to learn too! It was also nice to stand back and see the experts. I was brave enough to try and follow along with the dance itself and although I didn’t do too well no one held it against me. I could almost liken it in similarity to the Dia de los Muertos festivals held in Latin American countries and Arizona where dance, food and celebration are centered around honoring ancestral spirits. The Bon Dance that my husband and I attended, along with Jean (our Office Manager) and her lovely sister, brother-in-law, and niece, was amazing! It was held at the Haleiwa Jodo mission. This is called Toro Nagashi and is a beautiful sight to see! Here in Haleiwa, the Bon Dance is attended by all cultural groups and religions as it is a festive and beautiful way to honor those you love. The lanterns are then set to float on the sea to guide the ancestral spirits on their journey. On the last evening of the Bon Festival, a ceremonial lighting of lanterns is observed. Over the 500 years that it has become tradition, it has evolved into a family reunion of sorts where family members show their ancestral appreciation through celebratory dance. One such example is the Bon Dance I was fortunate enough to attend over the past weekend.Ī Bon Dance is a historic Japanese Buddhist festival to honor one’s departed loved ones and ancestors. The diverse cultures here in Hawaii seem to merge seamlessly while retaining their unique traditions. One of the many things I love so much about living in Hawaii is the opportunity to be exposed to cultural traditions I would otherwise never have the chance to experience first hand.
0 kommentar(er)
