After two years of cancelations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, members of the Guadalupe Buddhist Church hosted the annual Obon Festival in Santa Maria, a small city some 240 kilometers northwest of Los Angeles. Following tradition, the celebrations took place on the last Sunday in July at the Veterans Memorial Cultural Center.
The event featured drumming, dancing, martial arts, and traditional crafts drawing from the community’s largely Japanese-American heritage. The celebrations have been held locally for 75 years, following the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.
Continuing to take precautions amid the latest wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of the events and demonstrations were held outdoors. The street outside of the cultural center was closed, allowing events to spill out into the area and for visitors to wander freely.
Source: Buddhist Obon Festival Returns to Southern California after COVID Absence