NEW! Virtual 2020 Pasadena Buddhist Church Summer Obon Festival (Saturday at 4 pm)Newly Listed

2020: Celebrate the  Pasadena Buddhist Temple Obon Festival Experience in a VIRTUAL Way.  
We honor and spotlight our past activities and participants through a series of pages with new videos and live events. Please consider supporting our COVID-19 Temple Revenue Fund campaign while you visit our Obon.  Keep checking our temple website as new activities are added.

July 5-18,2020: Virtual Silent Auction: www.32auctions.com/PasadenaObon2020

July 18, 2020: Live Broadcast 4:00 pm. Watch a tea ceremony by Sensei Jose Salcedo using pieces created by our artist-in-residence, Alan Hiroshi Nakagawa. See Taiko performances and martial arts demonstrations by our friends at Pasadena Japanese Cultural Institute. Stroll through an Ikebana exhibit. Shop directly with our Obon vendors and visit our Community partners.

July 18, 2020: Live Zoom Bon Odori Party: 6:30 pm. Get your Obon gear on! Yes you can dance in your living room with us in a Zoom party or by watching the party live on YouTube and Facebook.  Details and links on how to join will be posted on our website, Facebook and YouTube pages.

More information to come.

Live links coming for: Facebook & Youtube at July 18, 4:00 pm - Saturday

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2019 Previous Year Obon

Annual Pasadena Buddhist Temple's Annual Obon festival will be held for 2 days in July. There will be Japanese food, crafts, games, cultural exhibits and demonstrations. Each evening, dancers from around the Southland gathered around the yagura and danced the traditional Obon Odori (dances). Dancing is scheduled to begin at 6:30 pm each evening. Obon odori is to dance for joy. Everyone is invited to join in to just dance and be accepted as we are.

Obon Background
"Obon is a Buddhist observance that was originally observed in Mahayana Buddhist countries, including China, Korea, Japan and Vietnam. Obon season is a time to express our gratitude to loved ones who have passed on before us. Without them, we would not be who we are today, due to the basic tenet of interdependence. In Japan, Obon has been held since 657 A.D." - Rev. Patti Usuki.

Obon Family Service will be held on Sunday at 10:00 am in conjunction with Hatsubon Service for families that have lost a loved one since the last Obon with Rev. Gregory Gibbs presiding. July monthly memorial service (Shotsuki Hoyo) will be held on Sunday, at 10:00 am.

Obon comes from the story of Maudgalyana, a disciple of the Buddha, who sees his mother suffering in "hell". Maudgalyana goes to the Buddha for advice and is instructed to make a gift (a vegetarian meal) to his fellow monks. He did so, and immediately his mother is saved from the miseries of hell. Overjoyed, he and his fellow monks clapped their hands and danced in joy. Obon, therefore, is an occasion for rejoicing in liberating others and ourselves from suffering.

Obon Festival Dates
July 20 - 21, 2019 - Saturday & Sunday

Obon Festival Times (Different End Times)
Sat: 4:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Sun: 4:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Bon Odori Dance Times
Bon Odori dancing will begin at 6:30 pm 

Obon Festival Schedule
* Taiko performances: 6 pm, LA Matsuri Taiko (Saturday), Taiko of West LA Buddhist Temple (Sunday)
* Food booth: Chicken Teriyaki, Beef Teriyaki, Beef Chow Mein, Manju, Spam Musubi, Chili Rice, Shaved Ice and much, much more!

Taiko Performances are schedule each evening before the dancing (6:00 pm). Saturday will feature LA Matsuri Taiko and Sunday will feature Taiko of West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple

Taiko Performances are scheduled each evening during the dancing break (around 7:00 PM). Saturday will feature L.A. Matsuri Taiko. Sunday will feature Taiko of West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple.

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Bon Dance Festival Ondo Practice Schedule (Check Web Site)
Practice is every Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7:00 - 8:00 pm beginning on Tuesday
Dates: Check below links

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Pasadena Buddhist Obon Festival Dates  
All Pasadena Buddhist Obon & Practices Dates  

Obon Festivals & Practices
All Obon Festivals  All Obon Practices   

All Japanese Event Festivals 
All Japanese Festivals Events   

Map of Japanese Festivals 
See Map Japanese Festivals

Celebrate the Japanese Culture food, performances and dancing.
(Please always confirm date & times, the schedule could change)

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Obon Festival Title
Pasadena Buddhist Church Summer Obon Festival (Live Taiko, Games, Japanese Food, Performances) (2 Days)

Obon Festival Location
Pasadena Buddhist Temple, 1993 Glen Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91103