Tuesday, July 19, 2011

35th Bon Odori 2011 Arigatou Malaysia

盆踊り a.k.a Bon Odori is a style of dancing performed during the Bon festival, a.k.a Obon.

Obon is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the departed spirit of one's ancestor. This Buddhist custom has evolved into family reunion holiday during which people return to ancestral family places and visit and clean their ancestors' graves, and when the spirits of ancestors are supposed to revisit the household altars. It has been celebrated in Japan for more than 500 years and traditionally includes a dance, known as Bon-Odori.

This is when the Bon-Odori festival in Malaysia comes in. The Bon-Odori festival is held in two states of Malaysia, namely KL and Penang simultaneously every year. This year for KL, it was held in Matshushita Sports Centre, Shah Alam. The crowd was overwhelming, way more than last year. People from all races and every walks of life was there to celebrate this very festival. There were mainly dance performances and stalls selling food and beverages.

Everyone who went also received a free hand-held fan with the illustration below wrapped around the fan.

Needless to say, this makes it super convenient for participants to keep track of events :).

It was my first time there and also my last time to Bon Odori festival, that's because I'm heading off to UK in 2+ months time. It was a good experience, I have not seen so much crowd in ONE place before. It awes me because even though I have been to even more crowded places outside Malaysia, the difference here is that I can stand still and take photos with the crowds around me, whereas outside Malaysia, if I stand still and take photos with this sort of crowd, I would be push off to god-knows-where.

Me and YY, with the crowd at the back!

and outside Bon Odori, outside the stadium, there are things one can never spot :)

 

Spotted : YUKATAS!
Final photo taking with the people!

 

From left to right, my brother's Japanese sensei (Atsuko sensei), my brother's girlfriend (YY), me and my brother's best friend (Greg)

It was a wonderful experience :), thank God I forgone the food+cocktail review at View, GTower for a quality time with these people :').

10 comment beans:

Hilda Milda™ said...

I missed the one last year and didn't expect this year's one to be this early. Hopefully can join next year! (:

benjaminvai said...

haha me too, did u dance? did u ? did u? XD

Stephanie Ee said...

Teehee~ I was there too ^^

bendan said...

Waa.. the flyer looks nice for this time! Like it. Most of all, I like you, dearie!! You looks pretty!!! Hahaha..

How I hope I was there, I wanna eat matcha ice-cream!!!! XD

http://bendan.me/

Baboon Tan said...

Shall wait for the 36th Bon Odori! :P

Jolyn said...

Hilda : there's always next time :(, but no next time for me already hehe.

BenjaminVai : Hahaha, I danced on my own spot, not up there, too crowded!

StephanieEe : Too many people, many of my friends went too, didn't see them >.<

Kahmon : yee, so sweet of you :), I had matcha+red bean ice cream that day hehehe.

Baboon : You should go to the next one and let me know how it goes ya :).

Isaac Tan said...

glad to see you had fun! XD

Henry Lee said...

hey! nice post, got spot any hunks in yukata not! LOL... didnt know u will enjoy this kind of event... haha! :D

Jolyn said...

Isaac : gee, thanks :D

Henry : thanks ya :). it was fine la, new experience :D, got a lot of guys in yukata la. handsome or not i don't know, didn't take notice lol!

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