About Obon
I am glad that we have Obon holiday in Japan. It was interesting to learn that Obon is a time to honor and remember ancestors.
My family is Hindu. We have a similar time to honor and remember our ancestors. It is a 16 day period called Pittar Pakh. It occurs during a month of fasting that starts in the middle of August and ends in the middle of September. During this month, Hindus don’t eat any meat or drink any alcohol. At the end of 16 days, we usually gather with our aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. We decorate pictures of our ancestors with garlands of flowers. We place the pictures on a big table. In front of the pictures, we place an oil lamp which has a fire in it. The fire stays lit all day. Around the front of the fire, there are many different kinds of foods. These include spicy lentil soup, many different vegetable curries, flatbread, and a sweet, milky, rice dessert. Our ancestors’ favorite foods are also placed in front of them. Fruit, milk, incense and money are used for special rituals. We say special prayers and sing songs in a language called Sanskrit. Afterwards, everyone eats together and shares happy memories and stories about our ancestors.
My family is Hindu. We have a similar time to honor and remember our ancestors. It is a 16 day period called Pittar Pakh. It occurs during a month of fasting that starts in the middle of August and ends in the middle of September. During this month, Hindus don’t eat any meat or drink any alcohol. At the end of 16 days, we usually gather with our aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. We decorate pictures of our ancestors with garlands of flowers. We place the pictures on a big table. In front of the pictures, we place an oil lamp which has a fire in it. The fire stays lit all day. Around the front of the fire, there are many different kinds of foods. These include spicy lentil soup, many different vegetable curries, flatbread, and a sweet, milky, rice dessert. Our ancestors’ favorite foods are also placed in front of them. Fruit, milk, incense and money are used for special rituals. We say special prayers and sing songs in a language called Sanskrit. Afterwards, everyone eats together and shares happy memories and stories about our ancestors.
