Bon Festival
The Bon Festival gives honor to the dead and appeases the souls of the ancestors.  It is also a time of remembrance, when people speak to the souls of their long departed ancestors and family.  Many seek to understand the mysteries of death.  It is said that ancestors hear the supplication of their families and may choose to help or guide them through the coming year.

Events of Note
Bondori
This a dance performed by colorfull clad bondori dancers.  After the main dance, revelers may dance to the music in circular patterns.  Revelers often wear yukata, which  is a summer kimono.

Fireworks
To welcome the souls home, the sky is lit with Fireworks.

Temple Prayers
The   Holy Order of Shinsei conduct prayer services.   This is held in a shrine or temple.

 Daimonji Gozan Okuribi
This event is held to return their souls to the next world which came back to their home during the festival. A nearby hill or trellis catches fire and it becomes the letter "Dai".  It lasts about 30 minutes.
 |
---
/ \

Traditions
Lanterns
To encourage the return of the souls to the Next World, the souls are seen off  by their family by releasing  small lit lanterns or boxes with some fruits and vegetables into them, down rivers or the sea at night.   The scene is a little sad and beautiful.

Prayers
People often visit temples to pray for their departed ones.  This usually involves burning incense or tying prayer signs to a sacred tree.

Spirit Quest
For the more adventurous ones, they seek out a soul speaker, who by complex ritual, becomes a medium for a specific departed soul.   Soul speakers are often cryptic and mysterious.