Wish upon a star at Tanabata festival
Sonitha, Contributor, Jakarta
The Japanese celebrate the Star Festival, or Tanabata, on the evening of July 7.
The festival itself traces its origins to a legend that started in China and was passed to Japan during the feudal period and combined with traditional local customs to become an official event at the Imperial Court. Soon, commoners began observing this festival -- with different localities developing their own distinctive ways of celebrating.
The legend is a touching love story that began in a royal family. At that time, members of the royalty were always associated with the heavens. Tentei (the emperor) being centered at the North Pole.
One day, the emperor's daughter, Orihime, was sitting beside the river of heaven (the Milky Way). She had been weaving because her father, the emperor, loved the beautiful clothes that she made. But on this particular day, she was very sad because she realized that she had been so busy that she didn't have time to fall in love. Her father, Tentei, the ruler of the heavens, felt sorry for her and arranged a marriage with Kengyuu who lived across the river, the Milky Way.
Their marriage was one of sweetness and happiness from the start. Everyday thereafter they grew happier and happier. But Tentei became very angry, because in spending so much time in her happy marriage, Orihime was neglecting her weaving. Tentei then decided to separate the couple, placing them back in their original places, separated by the Milky Way. On only one night of the year -- the 7th day of the 7th month -- would he allow them to meet.
Every year on that day, from the mouth of the river (the Milky Way), a boatman (of the moon) came to ferry Orihime over to her beloved Kengyuu. But if Orihime had not done her weaving to the best of her skills and ability, Tentei may make it rain. When it rains, the boatman will not come because the river is flooded. But in such a case, Kasasagi (a group of magpies) may still fly to the Milky Way to make a bridge for Orihime to cross.
In modern celebrations of Tanabata, people throughout Japan write wishes -- generally for themselves or relatives -- to the kami (deity) Orihime on colorful strips of paper.
On the evening of Tanabata, they will tie these paper wishes to freshly cut bamboo. Wishes may be for increased skills in work or school (reflecting specific vital and optimistic values) but may also be for anything that reflects a person's dreams and hopes for the future.
Summer vegetables such as eggplant and cucumbers are prepared, and horse or cow figures made out of straw and water oats are decorated.
While the myth probably held seasonal significance in its Chinese origins, specifically the celebration of the end of the rainy season (reflected in a desire that it not rain), it found a variety of interpretations related to seasonality in its Japanese form. Particularly in relation to agricultural development in Japan, "wishes" related to celebrations of Tanabata ranged from desire for dry weather to desire for wet weather depending on the particular geographic region and whether a crop was to be planted or harvested at this time.
In Tokyo, most people now decorate bamboo branches with just narrow strips of paper that carry their wishes. At some elementary schools, pupils attach their wishes to a huge bamboo branch and others put on skits about the legend of the Cowherd and Weaver Stars.
The city of Sendai and Hiratsuka are particularly famous for their elaborate Tanabata displays. Shopping arcades in these two cities feature huge decorations that are sponsored by local shops, which try to outdo one another in the size of their displays.
Some areas of Japan celebrate Tanabata a month later, on August 7, since this is closer to the seventh day of the seventh month on the traditional lunar calendar. Such communities frequently perform the services for Bon -- a period in mid-August when deceased relatives are thought to return, together with the ceremonies for Tanabata.
As Tanabata approaches, decorated bamboo branches can be seen all around the neighborhood, signaling that summer has finally arrived and that summer vacation is just around the corner.
In Jakarta, the Tanabata Festival will be celebrated on July 10, 2002 in Galeri Mini, Japan Foundation. Not only the spectacular bamboo tree decorations can be seen there, but also the traditional Japanese games, films, as well as Japanese story telling. This event is open for the public and is an opportunity for everyone to make a wish this summer.
Japan Foundation ; Summitmas I, 2nd Floor.; Jl. Jend. Sudirman kav.61-62, Central Jakarta; Tel: 520-1266