Orientation with cherry blossoms

Poulami Kundu
Our stay in Japan was a peek-a-boo into its rich culture and heritage. We lived in a miniscule apartment for a year near the Ojima area of Tokyo in 2014. Even though we have lived in different parts of the world, this was particularly a unique experience in terms of culture, logistics and gastronomy. Japan is the land of Mystics, Manga (Japanese comics) and Matsuri (festivals). Here is a brief account of two unique festivals from the land of rising sun.

Hanami (flower viewing) is amongst the most anticipated Matsuri of the year, when the famed Sakura (Cherry Blossoms) across the country are in full bloom. There are a few priceless experiences in an expensive city like Tokyo; fortunately the most beautiful visuals of Hanami come with no price tag. In Tokyo, it usually starts off mid-March and lasts till early May. With the Sakura season setting in, winter wear is shelved off and the crowd starts engaging in out-doorsy activities.

There are local fairs organised around the blossom sites that typically evolve into a hotspot of cultural milieu with Kimono (traditional dress) clad dainty Bishoujo (young girls), interesting street food and loads of local beer. These are some of the recommended cherry blossom spots in Tokyo: Chidorigafuchi: It’s near Kudanshita Station on Shinjuku/Hanzomon line, and by far the best in the city. Sakura trees line up the moats of castle around Kitanomaru Park. As you walk across the station, you can see Yasukuni (Shinto shrine), the carnival area is adjacent to the shrine. If you are an Indian, do not miss the festival at the Indian embassy close by.

Ueno Park: Step out of Ueno Station, and there are beautiful parks bordering a lake, dotted with beautiful shades of pink. This is a perfect location for a picnic on a bright day.

Sumida Park: This spot along the river Sumida near Asakusa Station has a view of the Tokyo Sky tree. It is even more picturesque in the evening with the trees lit up with traditional lanterns. Other popular sites are Shinjuku Goyen, Yoyogi Park, Asukayama Park and Meguro Canal.

Most cultures around the world commemorate a day to ancestral spirits, be it All Saints Day or Mahalaya Amavasya. As a Bengali, we have a popular practise of lighting 14 candles to honour our 14 ancestors during Diwali. I would have never given a serious thought to this tradition if I had not witnessed the expanse of the Obon Festival in Japan, and started relating it to my own roots. Obon or Bon Festival is a Japanese tradition honouring ancestors and is celebrated between 15 July to 15 August.

The festival starts in the evening, and lasts till late at night involving Bon Odori (traditional dancing), fireworks, floating lanterns in waterbodies, and much more.

Each Danchi (community/colony) arranges their own festival, ceremoniously dressed folks would form a huge circle to dance their heart out in well-co- ordinated steps to ritualistic music and drum beats.

The atmosphere is lively with Oriental lanterns, continuous drum rolls, an array of stalls around the dancing premises serving local delicacies and drinks. We were happy to witness a different culture with such a sense of familiarity.

— The writer is a blogger, avid traveller and pharma strategy consultant.