ηθΈγ 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 :)
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 :').
