Nepal, Aug. 11 -- Japan has become familiar to many Nepalis through its technology, Mount Fuji, the samurai legacy, and a growing community of nearly 300,000 Nepalis.

Yet some parts of Japan's cultural soul remain little known here. One of them could be the 'Bon Odori', a summer dance festival held during the Obon period in mid-August when ancestral spirits are honoured.

It blends Japan's indigenous ancestor worship with Buddhism, which first arrived in the 6th century. The spirits are welcomed with prayers, family grave visits, and dances in the community. The festival was a vibrant street culture 500 years ago, and today Bon Odori is marked across Japan in many modern forms, each bringing its own signature choreography and music to l...