The annual Japanese Bon Odori festival is coming up soon and I hear the good folks at Sunrise Fun Zone are organising a trip there for Sunrise Mont'Kiara residents.

I've heard of the well-known Bon Odori festival but never really knew what it's all about until now.

The crowd at last year's Bon Odori gathering

Bon Odori (meaning Bon dance) is an event held during Obon, a Japanese Buddhist custom to honour the departed spirits of one's ancestors. It is meant to be a joyful celebration, bringing families together and celebrating rather than mourning the lives of the dearly departed.

The Bon Odori Festival has been a fixture here in Malaysia for more than 30 years and is more a festival of Japanese culture, with Japanese dances - including the traditional Bon Odori, danced specially for this occassion - music, food and lots more, presented throughout the evening.

This is the largest Japanese cultural event in Malaysia and also one of the largest Bon Odori festivals in the world. According to the Embassy of Japan, more than 40,000 people attended the event last year. Hmm...perhaps I should make trip there this time.  

This year's festival will be held on 17 July at Kompleks Sukan Negara in Shah Alam from 5pm onwards.