Bon Odori is a traditional Japanese festival that is celebrated with dances and a lively performance of drums to welcome the homecoming of ancestral spirits.
Penang was bustling with more activity than usual over the weekend with the Japanese Bon Odori Festival being celebrated at Padang Kota’s Esplanade. The festival drew over 20,000 visitors that included both locals and foreigners who were welcomed back after a two-year hiatus due to pandemic restrictions.
Celebrating multicultural festivals is truly a Malaysian trait, so it wasn’t at all unusual to see many non-Japanese people in traditional Japanese attire. Visitors got to join in traditional dances and take part in games and activities.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the celebration is jointly organised by the state government and the Japanese Consulate-General’s Office, and that mutual concerted efforts had contributed to the success of Saturday’s event.
| Image Credit: The Vibes
He explained that Bon Odori is a traditional Japanese festival that is celebrated with dances and a lively performance of drums to welcome the homecoming of ancestral spirits.
“This widely commemorated and most-anticipated Japanese cultural festival is held annually with a variety of local and Japanese food, fireworks displays, Japanese souvenirs, lively performances and games.
“Looking beyond the festivities, the Bon Odori Festival is a testament to the long-standing friendship between Penang and Japan. It is an occasion worthy of celebration as we foster a deeper and stronger relationship with our Japanese counterpart, building more bridges for mutual understanding in this era of globalisation,” he said at the official opening of festival on Saturday, July 30.
The ceremony was officiated by Yang Dipertua Negeri of Penang, Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak and also present were the Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia, Katsuhiko Takahashi and Japanese Consul-General in Penang, Hiroyuki Orikasa
Meanwhile, Takahashi said Japan highly appreciates Malaysia’s cultural diversity, and tolerance has been an engine to promote bilateral relations in all its aspects including this Bon Odori Festival.
He also said that the annual Bon Odori Festival that has been held for almost half a century in this country is an effort to promote and strengthen friendship between Malaysia and Japan.
“I also hope that we can all feel the beauty of cultural exchanges between Japan and Malaysia, as symbolised by the splendid Malay dance we just enjoyed, and various Japanese cultural performances including the Soran Bushi dance and Japanese drums performance by students of the Penang Japanese School after the opening ceremony,” he added.
Source: Bernama
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