Citywide Buddhist ‘Obon Fest’ returns to East Portland temple

INCLUDES VIDEO MEMORIES | Realize why many outer East Portland folks make the pilgrimage to spend the afternoon and evening at this cultural celebration …

The campus of the Oregon Buddhist Temple is once again the place where hundreds of people gather to celebrate Obon Fest 2024.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

Obon Fest, primarily a Japanese cultural celebration, attracted hundreds of people to the campus of the Oregon Buddhist Temple, in the Creston-Kenilworth neighborhood, on August 3.

Historically, Obon is a fusion of the ancient Japanese belief in ancestral spirits, and a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the spirits of one’s ancestors. The celebration has evolved into a family reunion holiday and dancing celebration.

Central to this festival is the drumming of Portland Taiko.

Taking a brief break from their activities, here are the festival’s co-organizers Marilyn Achterman, Charles Reneau, and Roberta Ando.

“About the Obon Festival – we think about several aspects,” informed one of three event co-organizers, Marilyn Achterman. “It’s religious, absolutely; this is the base and the foundation of this Buddhist festival. It has been celebrated in Japan for more than 500 years, and traditionally includes a dance, known as Bon Odori.

Watch as part of this special, cultural celebration is underway:

“But additionally, it’s also a summer event, a community gathering, and a cultural celebration – and it’s also definitely a ‘food fair’, with lots of great food we all enjoy together,” Achterman told East Portland News.

Volunteers work a row of barbecue grills, preparing a variety of savory meats.

A 20-year member and volunteer with the temple, Justin Kwong, stir-fries another batch of Yakisoba.

Guests enjoy freshly-made snacks, and even complete meals, prepared at the festival.

Many of the 150 volunteers who make the festival possible aren’t Japanese or Buddhist, Achterman said. “People come here to volunteer from all over the greater Portland area. I think the volunteers are here because we really do appreciate their help – and, they get meaning and significance out of it themselves, also.”

In the Temple’s basement, guests can purchase a wide variety of traditional celebratory clothing and accessories that they’ll be wearing during the festival.

“The most important aspect of this, to me, is that the festival brings people to visit a Buddhist temple,” explained Achterman. “It doesn’t matter if they are Buddhist, or become Buddhist – or even if they never come back to our temple – I just feel glad that they came to visit us here at our Buddhist temple.”

This ensemble performs traditional Japanese dance.

Musical and dance groups performed throughout the afternoon and into the evening hours as guests stayed fueled by delicious foods, cooked by volunteers at the location.

After the sun goes down, festival-goers arebe encouraged to participate in the group dance – known as Bon Odori – in the courtyard.

Learn more about the Oregon Buddhist Temple by visiting their website: CLICK HERE.

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