Obon Rituals: Lantern Lighting and Ancestor Welcoming Ceremonies

BY NICOLE LAU

Sacred Ceremonies for Returning Spirits

Obon rituals welcome ancestral spirits home, honor their presence, and guide them back to the spirit world. These practices blend Buddhist tradition with Japanese folk customs, creating beautiful ceremonies that celebrate the eternal bonds between living and dead.

Traditional Japanese Rituals

Grave Cleaning (Ohaka Mairi)

Before Obon begins, families visit ancestral graves to clean and prepare them.

Traditional process: Sweep and wash the gravestone. Remove weeds and debris. Place fresh flowers (often chrysanthemums). Light incense. Pour water over the stone. Offer prayers. Leave food offerings.

Modern adaptation: Visit cemetery or memorial site. Clean memorial marker. Bring flowers and incense. Spend time in quiet reflection. Speak to ancestors, updating them on family news. This prepares both the physical space and your heart for Obon.

Welcoming the Ancestors (Mukaebi)

On the first day of Obon (13th), families light welcoming fires to guide spirits home.

Traditional method: Light small fire at house entrance using hemp stalks or wood. Some families light fires at the grave and carry the flame home. Hang lanterns (chochin) outside the house. The light guides ancestors along familiar paths.

Modern adaptation: Light candles at your entrance or in windows. Use paper lanterns (electric or candle). Create a path of tea lights from door to altar. Visualize the light guiding your ancestors home. Speak: "Welcome home, honored ancestors. We have prepared for your return. Please join us."

The Butsudan Preparation

The Buddhist home altar (butsudan) is cleaned and decorated for Obon.

Process: Clean the altar thoroughly. Arrange fresh flowers (lotus, chrysanthemums). Place photos of deceased family members. Set out favorite foods of ancestors. Light incense and candles. Hang special Obon lanterns. Create cucumber horse and eggplant cow (spirit vehicles). Arrange offerings beautifully.

If you don't have a butsudan, create a temporary ancestor altar on a table or shelf.

Lantern Lighting Ceremonies

Chochin Lanterns

Paper lanterns (chochin) are central to Obon.

Process: Hang white lanterns for recently deceased (first Obon after death). Hang colored lanterns for ancestors who died longer ago. Light lanterns at sunset on all three Obon days. As you light each lantern, speak the ancestor's name. Say: "[Name], we welcome you home. Your light guides you to us." Keep lanterns lit through the evening.

Toro Nagashi: Floating Lanterns

On the final day, floating lanterns guide spirits back.

Materials: Paper lanterns (can be purchased or made), candles or LED lights, river, lake, or ocean access (or large bowl of water).

Process: Write prayers or ancestors' names on lanterns. Light candles inside (or use LED for safety). At sunset on the 15th or 16th, go to water. Speak: "Honored ancestors, thank you for visiting. We release you with love. May you return safely to the spirit world." Gently place lanterns on water. Watch them float away, carrying spirits home. Remain in silent reverence. If using a bowl at home, float small candles or LED tea lights, then pour water onto earth afterward.

Food Offering Rituals

Preparing the Ozen

Elaborate food offerings (ozen) are placed on the altar.

Traditional foods: Rice (staple, sustenance), vegetables (seasonal, fresh), fruits (peaches, melons, grapes), sweets (mochi, dango, yokan), tea or sake, favorite dishes of specific ancestors.

Process: Prepare food with love and intention. Arrange beautifully on special dishes. Place on altar before meals. Invite ancestors to eat first. After Obon, family eats the offerings, sharing a meal with ancestors. This completes the cycle of giving and receiving.

The Cucumber Horse and Eggplant Cow

Materials: One cucumber, one eggplant, chopsticks or small sticks.

Process: Insert four sticks into cucumber to create legs (horse). Insert four sticks into eggplant to create legs (cow). Place on altar. Speak: "Ride swiftly home on this horse, dear ancestors. When you depart, ride slowly on this cow, taking your time, laden with our love and offerings." After Obon, return vegetables to earth (compost or bury).

Modern Obon Rituals

The Ancestor Altar Creation

Create a temporary Obon altar even without Buddhist tradition.

Materials: Table or shelf, white or purple cloth, photos of deceased loved ones, candles, incense, flowers, food offerings, personal items of ancestors.

Process: Cover surface with cloth. Arrange photos in place of honor. Place candles and incense. Add flowers and food. Include meaningful objects (jewelry, books, tools). Light candles and incense. Speak: "I honor you, [names]. Welcome home. I remember you with love." Maintain altar through Obon, refreshing offerings daily.

The Storytelling Circle

Gather family or friends to share ancestor stories.

Process: Sit around altar or in circle. Each person shares a story or memory of an ancestor. Include funny stories, not just sad ones. Laugh and cry together. This keeps ancestors alive in memory and teaches younger generations about their heritage.

The Letter to Ancestors

Process: Write letter to deceased loved one. Share what's happened since they passed. Express gratitude, love, or unresolved feelings. Read letter aloud at altar. Burn letter safely, releasing words to the spirit world. Or keep letter on altar through Obon, then bury it.

Sending Off the Ancestors (Okuribi)

The Farewell Fire

On the final evening, light fires to guide spirits back.

Process: Light candles or small fire at entrance (opposite of welcoming). Speak: "Thank you for visiting, beloved ancestors. We release you with gratitude. Return safely to your realm. We will welcome you again next year." Watch the flames, feeling the bittersweet farewell. Extinguish fires mindfully.

The Gratitude Ceremony

Process: Stand before altar on final evening. Light incense. Speak gratitude for ancestors' visit and blessings. List specific things you're grateful for. Bow in respect. Slowly extinguish candles. Dismantle altar mindfully over the next day or two.

Community Obon Celebration

If possible, attend or organize Bon Odori. Gather community for dance. Everyone participates, regardless of skill. Dance in circles, honoring ancestors together. Share food afterward. This recreates traditional community celebration and connects you to Japanese culture.

Timing Your Rituals

Day 1 (13th): Grave cleaning, welcoming fires, altar preparation. Day 2 (14th): Offerings, prayers, storytelling, presence with ancestors. Day 3 (15th/16th): Final offerings, toro nagashi, sending-off fires, gratitude.

Conclusion: Honoring the Return

Obon rituals create sacred space for ancestors to return, express love across the veil, maintain family bonds through death, and celebrate life's continuity. Whether lighting lanterns, preparing offerings, or simply remembering with love, these practices honor the eternal connection between living and dead.

In the next article, we'll explore Obon magic and spell work, focusing on ancestor communication, spirit guidance, and working with ancestral power.