Annual events of Religious Corporation Saiko-ji Temple located at Horage, Tsukuba-city, Ibaraki Prefecture

Major Annual Events of Saiko-ji Temple

About Higan (vernal and autumnal equinox festivals) in spring and autumn

We will hold the first Higan ceremony and memorial services for ancestors.

■Higan in spring (the vernal equinox means the seven days around Spring Equinox Day

■Higan in autumn(the autumn equinox means the seven days around Autumn Equinox Day

About Bon Festival

It can be said that Obon (Bon Festival) is a national religious event that has been inherited for more than 1400 years since the introduction of Buddhism into Japan
We should hold memorial services for Obon with all our heart.

■Cleaning of Graves　【At the end of July to the beginning of August】

Please complete cleaning of your graves by August 7 at the latest. You are supposed to clean your ancestors' residence before welcoming their souls for Obon Festival.
If you put old stupas or living flowers at the designated place, we will burn them later.
However, cut-off weeds are hardly combustible and additionally, fruits offerings are extremely dangerous because bees etc. approach them.
We are terribly sorry for your inconvenience, but please bring such weeds and offerings etc. back home by yourself. We would like to ask for your cooperation.

■Dai Segaki Memorial Service (August 9, 1:00 pm)

After reading the attachment carefully, we are looking forward to as many participants as possible.

・Niibon (New Bon) Memorial Service

By performing memorial service for souls of each family's ancestors of temple supporters and believers and for all souls of dead people of the whole universe that the Buddha enlightened such as neglected souls etc., including Niibon memorial service, we will pray for long lives and prosperity of the chief mourners.
We understand that you must be busy welcoming Niibon, but we would like to earnestly request you to attend such memorial services and offer incense.

・Memorial Service of Ancestors

By performing Niibon memorial service and memorial service for all souls of dead people of the whole universe that the Buddha enlightened such as neglected souls etc., including memorial service for souls of each family's ancestors of temple supporters and believers, we will pray for long lives and prosperity of the chief mourners.
We would like to earnestly request you to attend such memorial services and offer incense.

■The Day When Returning Dead Souls Are Welcomed Back 【August 13】

Welcoming dead souls by as many people as possible, you are supposed to offer a candle at Bondana with great care. The family that welcomes Niibon this year is supposed to welcome the dead soul as early as possible.

■Otanagyo (chanting sutras in front of a bondana)

We will visit you for memorial services of your ancestors.
As usual, we will visit the people living at remote locations such as other prefectures on August 13, and the local ones or the ones living in the nearby regions and, the temple supporters and believers from August 14 to 16.

■Okuribon (the final night of Obon)【August 16】

You are supposed to see off the souls of your ancestors that you worshipped for 3 days.
Additionally, we are terribly sorry for your inconvenience, but please bring your offerings such as fruits etc. back home by yourself.

About Parish Association

■Saturdays or Sundays between the end of May and the beginning of June

As of November of 2017, we take responsibility for the 8th Branch Chief of Jishu sect Parish for a period of 4 years.
The main tasks are to perform clerical business/accounts processing/contacts etc. for 28 temples of the 8th Branch of Jishu sect (the western part of Ibaraki Prefecture).
Therefore, we hold a parish association once a year or at any time.