KINIGUIDE | What is the Bon Odori festival?

KINIGUIDE | The Bon Odori festival originating from Japan has been observed in Malaysia for decades.

The festival held in Shah Alam alone reportedly drew more than 35,000 Malaysians and Japanese expatriates annually and is one of the largest outside Japan.

This year, however, as the festival prepares to make a post-pandemic comeback, the upcoming celebrations drew headlines after religious authorities told Muslims not to attend.

For this instalment of KiniGuide, Malaysiakini looks back at the roots of the festival and how it has evolved in Malaysia.

What is Bon Odori?

Bon - sometimes known as Obon - is...