Obon- What a waste

[canman]

My goodness have any of you fg ever visited a temple during Obon. What a colossal waste of food. I was amazed to see all the gift offerings of food and alcohol just sitting in the temple going bad. I know that we westerners are terrible at wasting food gas etc. But if this goes on everywhere in Japan, and I'm sure it does, how can these places live in good conscience. I asked my wife about it do the shrines donate the food to shelters or anything like that, but she said no they just toss it after the end of the Obon period.

[AssKissinger]

That's more of an Aomori thing and not all over Japan. In Aichi and Hiroshima people don't leave bentos at gravesites during Obon.

[Skankster]

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Do you really beleive that all that is not consumed?

It is just an offering... not a taking.

[Big Booger]

My wife's family offers food at the family home, and then shares the food with all the visitors and family members.

[Bongo]

My wife's family offers food at the family home, and then shares the food with all the visitors and family members.

Yeah, all the fruit and stuff on the Obon Butsudan or whatever the Obon version is called, is eaten by the family, at my wife's place also.

Man, with all those hemp stems being burnt at Obon, you would think people would find better use for the stuff.
They should just burn the erb all over the country at the same time and let everyone loosen up. They could call it "ObonGo".
Oh, yeah......

[Charles]

Man, with all those hemp stems being burnt at Obon, you would think people would find better use for the stuff.
They should just burn the erb all over the country at the same time and let everyone loosen up. They could call it "ObonGo".
Oh, yeah......

You know, I read somewhere that when a new Emperor ascends to the throne, he has a ritual he must perform at the Imperial Ise Shrine. He ritually takes posession of the 3 treasures, and then he goes out in the garden and plants a marijuana seedling.

[canman]

I'm talking about the offerings in the shrines themsleves. Go and visit one, and you too will be amazed at what gifts people give to the shrines only to have them tossed. And yes Skanster I do believe they are all wasted. I just asked my wife and at least up here, it considered dirty to eat an offering like that.

[Big Booger]

They probably throw the food in a compost.

[mr. sparkle]

[Bongo]

Yeah, Japan needs to get back to its Grass roots. Excuse the pun.
Then perhaps, a little more respect for nature and fellow humankind may prevail.

Basho obviously had his head screwed on in the correct manner.