Obon Festival bigger and better each year

The 28th annual Las Vegas Obon Festival and Bazaar Aug. 6 at Clark High School celebrated a new home, a record crowd and visions of a bigger event in the future.

Hosted by Las Vegas Buddhist Sangha, the all-day Japanese cultural celebration was presented in the multipurpose room and gymnasium at Clark High School. An estimated 2,000-plus people were greeted by a 360 Car Show and a mix of culture, food and crafts.

From young people to senior citizens, the festival and bazaar had color, history and interaction throughout the day.

Heritage was highlighted by not only the food, but by a tea ceremony, hula performance by Na Hula Hali-a Aloha Cultural Preservation, Taiko drumming by Kaminari Taiko and two segments of Obon dancing.

The Buddhist faith is strong, especially for those who grew up learning about it workings.

“In the house I grew up in, we had what we call an Obustudan, which is like a mini-shrine,” said Patty (Yokoi) Matthiessen, who grew up in San Jose, California. “Rather than going to church all of the time, you can pray anytime you want right in your own house. It’s been in our family for many decades and we believe that it represents life.

“I was brought up Buddhist, so we went to Sunday school every week. At the time, I felt that once I turned 18, I was done with it. However, that’s not the case. We all grew up thinking there was a higher power and that feeling has become stronger the older I get. Life is precious.”

The Las Vegas Buddhist Sanga event has had other homes during almost three decades and outgrowing each venue has been a pleasant concern for its organizers. The dedication exhibited by members of the Las Vegas Buddhist Sangha has been unmatched since the event’s inception.

“It was a totality of team workers,” said Wayne Tanaka, one of eight founders who also served as the master of ceremonies. “So many people shared in the program and every one of those moving parts played a role in the success.

“With our church, when it’s time to get moving, everyone jumps in. We have every conceivable type of profession represented ranging from attorneys to chefs who make this happen.”

Tilda Silao, who serves as the marketing director and exhibitor chairwoman, echoed Tanaka’s praise.

“We were so busy,” Silao said. “Everything went very well, and we received so much positive feedback. We had 73 vendors in the exhibitor’s hall with everything from Hawaiian items all the way up to participation by foundations like Post Adoption Kinship and the Ninth Island Cultural Club, which hosted the shaved ice concession for us.”

Silao also said the group donated money raised to other community foundations. Wooden toys were given to Toys for Smiles, another charity that helps young people, she said.

“This was our biggest year ever for vendors,” Silao said, adding that next year’s gathering will include more children’s games. “We had excellent sponsorship from 360 Car Show, the Southern Cal Edison Federal Credit Union and Las Vegas Hawaiian Civic Club and major raffle donations provided by various businesses.

States represented include Nevada, California, Arizona, Oregon, Hawaii, and Colorado. The farthest-traveled award went to Jesuit Catholic brothers from Edmonton, Alberta. Golfers participated in the fourth-annual Buddhist Sangha Gassho golf tournament at Badlands Golf Club.

Las Vegas Buddhist Sangha is at 4110 N. Martin Luther King Blvd.

For more information, visit www.lasvegasbuddhist.org, call 619-888-5301 or email lvsangha.info@gmail.com.