An annual celebration honouring ancestors has grown from being strictly a Steveston Buddhist Temple event, into a showcase of Buddhist and Japanese culture, with dancing, food and games that is open to all.
Bon Odori is a Buddhist festival held during the Obon, which is when Buddhists believe spirits of their ancestors return to this world for a visit.
“Bon Odori is a dance of joy festival to recognize all the things our ancestors have done, so we can live the life we live today,” explained Reverend Grant Ikuta, temple minister.
“Traditionally, in the summer time in Japan, whole villages would gather and this is something Japanese Buddhists in Steveston have been doing for over 70 years.”
It has been about eight years since Ikuta became the reverend at the Garry Street temple, which is when the congregation started actively inviting the Richmond community to this event.
“It started with word of mouth and it became more and more popular,” Ikuta said, adding about 700 people attended last year.
“You don’t have to be a Buddhist to attend.”
The festival will take place on Saturday, July 16, with gates opening at 4 p.m. Entertainment starts at 5 p.m. with the temple’s Bon Odori dancers, the Jodo Shin Taiko drummers, hula dancers and the Satsuki Japanese dance group. There will also be food booths selling things such as Japanese miso pulled pork sandwiches, chow mein, sushi and teriyaki. The religious component of the festival, a service, will be held on Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
The story behind Bon Odori stems from one of Buddha’s disciples’, Maudgalyayana.
One day, while Maudgalyayana was meditating, he was able to see his deceased mother’s spirit, who was put in the realm of the hungry ghost and was suffering.
Those in this realm were starved, as any food they put near their mouths would burst into flames.
Shocked, he sought help from Buddha for help, who explained she was put there because, while alive, she gave Maudgalyayana too much love and attention, at the expense of others.
To help his mother, Maudgalyayana was instructed to hold a large gathering during the rainy season and make an offering to all the monks. He did and the next time he meditated, he saw that his mother was relieved from her suffering. He then danced with joy.
The Steveston Buddhist Temple (4360 Garry St.) is one of the oldest Buddhist organizations in Canada. Their first temple was built in the heart of Steveston village in 1928 and the current temple was built in 1963.
For more information, visit Steveston-Temple.ca.
