FESTIVAL OF THE DEAD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 281, 26 November 1932, Page 2 (Supplement)

FESTIVAL OF THE DEAD.

(By {leather Graham, S, Ponsonby Terrace, Pousonby ; age 17.) In the hush of the evening, as the soft violet shades of nightfall settled over the countryside, Jack Somevs was strolling in the garden with his father, en joy -. ing the cool breeze, which gently whispered to the rustling leaves above. Mr. Somers had returned from Japon — that land of elfin charm and mystery— only the previous day, and maiiy and delightful were the stories that the boy had already heard with such eager interest.

Now, as his father talked on, Jack himself was borne on the far-reaching wings of imagination, past village and field, across the blue expanse of ocean., to. enchanted shores, where curved roofs and coiling dragons mingled under blue arched skies, and in between rose the snowy grandeur of Fujiyama. Jack could almost see the tiny blue-roofed houses and the little smiling faced people in their blue costumes; he could fancy himself moving smoothly along in a jinricksha, watching the white mushroom shaped hat of his sandalled runner bobbing up and down before him. He pictured the narrow streets lined with low-gabled buildings resembling toy houses, the long-robed merchants squatting upon matted floors and puffing at small brass pipes in front of their shops, even the shops themselves, with their mysterious' Japanese, lettering and signs and their multitudes of alluring curiosities, all inviting one to buy.

Every year, his father was saying, from the 13th to the 15th of July, the Japanese people hold the Festival of the Dead, known to them as the Bommatsuri or Bonku. On the 13th, while it is yet early morning, all the Buddhist altars are gaily decorated with flowers and greenery, real lotus blossoms being used wherever possible, and in the poorer homes flowers of paper. Over the shrines and altars new rice straw mats are then placed and offerings of food, wrapped in lotus leaves, laid thereon.

These offerings consist of boiled rice, dango, a kind of tiny dumpling, somen, something like our vermicelli, eggplant, slices of melon and water melon, plums, peaches and often sweet cakes. Pure clear water is also added, and from time to time sprinkled upon the altar. All is daintily prepared and temptingly arranged, "even to the hashi (chopsticks) placed beside the offering. Tea is also served in miniature cups and bowls, being freshly poured every hour. Thus for three, days the silent shadowy visitors are feasted.

In the dusk of the evening, pine torches are lit and coloured lanterns suspended at the entrance to each home for the purpose of guiding the invisible spirits. Charming and. wonderful are some of these paper lanterns, beautifully made in the shapes of flowers, exquisitely painted with scenery and landscapes, and each on<» draped with a fringe of paper streamers.

Upon the last night, the 15th, comes the- time for the ghostly visitors to depart to unseen worlds.. Their friends have done their best to ploa.se them, and 7iow they must bid them farewell. From every home is brought a boat of closely-woven barley straw, about two feet in length, laden with a rich cargo of choice foodstuffs and incense. Many are the written messages of hope and love also consigned to these frail craft. Gently they are launched upon the waters of river, canal and lake, and as they move slowly with the current, a tiny lantern, glowing brightly at each prow, they seem like myriads of softly shining stars reflected from the deep blue velvet canopy above. Slowly, silently, the phantom fleets travel down to the sea, and the cool night wind, wafted back, is fragrant with incense."* Farewell quaint shoryobunc, "boats of the blessed ghosts."