-langkahbaru-: Bon Odori Malaysia 2008

Last week me and my fellow friends, which is from the XMorfis Forum (can check out the link at my fav link) went to the Bon Odori Festival at Matsushita Shah Alam Stadium.

A bit of introduction about this festival from wikipedia:

Obon (お盆, Obon) or just Bon (盆, Bon) is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the departed (deceased) spirits of one's ancestors. This Buddhist custom has evolved into a family reunion holiday during which people return to ancestral family places and visit and clean their ancestors' graves, and when the spirits of ancestors are supposed to revisit the household altars. Also called the Feast of Lanterns, it has been celebrated in Japan for more than 500 years and traditionally includes a dance, known as Bon-Odori.

But in Malaysia there is no graveyard of their ancestors. So the festival in Malaysia only includes drum performance and cultural dance. There is 3 parts of the dance. By the way, the event starts at 7 and we arrived at 6.30pm.

cultural dancers

Asupa (my friend) pick me up at my house and we went straight to Shah Alam and wait at Esso Batu Tiga for the others. We go there with 3 cars. Asupa's, Ishi's and Muizu cars. Most of us is here for the first time though. Only Muizu has experience about bon odori before ^_________^

Hearing the stories and its exciting. The event is well organized. Thumbs up to the organizer. They've done a great job at it. From parking to the entrance everything is quite smooth. Visitors is given a fan at the entrance. Festival is done in summer at Japan, and basically its hot in the field too. Haha...so giving a fan is convenient enough ^___^

drummers

While we are still in the car, kawaii girls wearing yukata can be seen already..weee~ Well, some is pure japanese while others might be chinese, malay...or..err...african..hhahahaha. Really. I thought I want to snap a picture but they walk too fast. Haha..But seriously, there is african wearing yukata.

So we went to the field, and the event started. The drummer entered the stage and started playing. Next the japanese girls wearing yukata entered the stage forming a circle around the stage. At the moment they just stand there so we have a chance to capture their pic. Hehehe..lucky i had 6x optical zoom camera. It can stretch quite far from place i stand.

Sadly only few on stage is cute/kawaii. haha..with my cam can see their face. Next we walk around the area to look around and capture pics. I met few malay girls wearing yukata and they are sporting enough letting me take a picture with them. Ahh..sadly though because I didn't take their phone number..huhuhu

Another thing that the organizer did was the "Surau" prepared for the Muslims. Its convenient enough and can support quite a number or people at the same time. After joining the bon odori dance little bit we decided to regroup and go for Maghrib prayer.

Found the others and they've already found a spot on the track with foods and cake. Foods brought is sushi (various type) and a cake celebrating Sayumi and few H!P artist. The cake is from Secret Recipe and it was DELICIOUSS!!!! But cannot take much because its too sweet. Haha. I'm not good with sweet stuff.

While we are eating, they are doing the 2nd part of the dance. Basically, every part is the same only the song played is different. I'm still not sure about this dance though. Just know a lttle bit about it. And Malaysia local culture song such as inang or wat ever is also played through the speaker. Maybe during their break time.

As the 3rd part of the dance, we went back to the field to participate. The dance is simple enough for everyone to follow ^____________^

What I can say here is that this is event is fun. And I really wanted to come again next year ^_______^

At the end of the event, there is photo session of drummers and dancers on stage. But its too crowded so i just look my friends from far. Everyone is enjoying the day. So do we.

We went back to Muiz place to exchange the pictures captured and eat. On our way back, I saw Ari's car. Another friend of mine. Hehehe. SMS him and he says he came with Oni, and Eis. Our other friend. Next year will come with them.

Okay..here is some picture i snap with my lumix. Ahh...I fell in love with the girl in red yukata T_________T hope had a chance to meet her again in the future.huhu~

The song played for the dance can be found here --> HERE <--