A couple of months ago, someone with the Buddhist Church of Stockton (California) contacted me about images he had found online of my sketches from the Seattle Obon festival in 2016. The organization wanted to purchase the use of a couple of images for promotional materials for its Obon celebration this year. Saddened that Seattle’s Obon had been cancelled for the second year, I was happy to be able to contribute to the Stockton church’s festivities. (I declined the payment and donated it back to the church.) I was thrilled to see my sketches on the T-shirts they sent me! (T-shirts are still available for sale online.)
Last year when Obon (and all other summer festivals) was cancelled, I had hoped that COVID would be under enough control that we would be resuming festivities this year. Alas. Instead, the Seattle Buddhist Betsuin sold boxed food items (similar to Stockton’s event), but it’s certainly not the same as dancing in the street and seeing old friends. Maybe next year.
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| 7-16-16 Bon Odori dancers |
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| 7/16/16 taiko drummers performing at Obon |
