Korea

Young girls and unmarried women bow to the two stars, Herdboy (Altair) and Weaving Maid (Vega) on this night and pray for improvement in sewing. Scholars drink wine and write poems to the star lovers.

Only a few magpies are seen on this night as all have made the voyage to the Milky Way to form a bridge for the two lovers to cross. In the morning they are seen everywhere, baldheaded because the Herdboy and Weaving Maid walked on them the night before. Rain falling on this night represents tears of joy at their meeting and tears of grief at their farewell.

Source:   Folk Customs and Family Life by Tae Hung Ha. Seoul, Korea: Yonsei, 1958, p. 890.

In non-Buddhist families, general housecleaning is postponed until after the great summer rains. The festival of the "double seven" (seventh day of the seventh month) is the day when the housewife cleans the house and airs all clothes and books in the courtyard. This is a day especially lucky for housewives, as this is the day when the fairies travel around. On this day, there must be no sunshine to spoil the books and dresses.

When the Cowherd and Weaving Maid visit, there is no sun as they are bashful so must meet under a thick cover of cloud to conceal their happy meeting from mortal eyes.

Source:   Chinese Festivals by Wolfram Eberhard. New York: Henry Schuman, 1952, pp. 143-144.

Held during July or August, each temple sets the date for its bon-odori dance. Obon includes visits to family graves, the return of family members to their birthplaces, special foods offered in honor of the ancestors, and a lantern hung outside to guide home the spirits of the dead. The festival is held in honor of the dead and prayers are offered for their repose. The bon-odori dances are festive occasions that may include the selling of snacks and knickknacks by vendors.

Source:   Bon Matsuri or Festival of Lanterns, Japanese Festivals by Helen Bauer and S. Carlquest. Garden City, NY.: Doubleday, 1965, pp. 50-59.

According to the old Chinese calendar, the fifteenth day of the seventh month is the Feast of Spirits. Buddhist monks and Taoist priest visit houses and perform a ceremony at which little rolls, intended for the spirits, are tossed in the air by the monks and priests. They recite hymns and throw these rolls late into the night.

Source:   The Lotus Pool of Memory by Chow Chung-cheng. New York: Appleton-Century Crofts, 1961, p. 20.

Taiwan

The Taiwanese call this day the "opening of the Gates of Hell." It is the day on which the souls of those suffering in Buddhist or Taoist purgatory are allowed to roam freely on earth. A banquet must be prepared for them to alleviate their suffering and sometimes effect an early release from punishment. The giving of a banquet sacrifice with prayers and incense is called "pho-to," releasing the souls from suffering. The gates of Hell are suppose to remain open until the 30^th of the seventh month, which is the birthday of Te-chong ong, the Buddhist saint who presides over the infernal regions and tries to release suffering souls from their torment.

Source:   Taiwan Feasts and Customs by Micheal R. Saso. Hsinchu, Taiwan: Chabanel Language Institue, pp. 65-66.

This is the second largest festival of the year. (Tet is the first.) Though it falls on the 15^th day of the seventh month, it may be celebrated at any convenient time during the latter half of the month. It is not just a Buddhist holiday but also celebrated by all Vietnamese who believe in the existence of God, good and evil.

They believe that sinful souls can be absolved of their punishment and delivered from hell through prayers said by the living on the first and 15^th of every month. Wandering Soul's Day, however, is believed to be the best time for priests and relatives to secure general amnesty for all souls. On this day, the gates of hell are said to open at sunset and the souls fly out unclothed and hungry. Thus plenty of food is left at family altars.

Source:   Customs and Culture of Vietnam. by Ann Crawford. Rutland, Vt.: Charles E. Tuttle, 1 966, pp. 196-197.

First Day of Shrawan, Darkening Fortnight (July - August)
Gai Jatra (The Procession of Sacred Cows)

Families suffering a death during the preceding year sponsor Gai Jatra, a cow procession.

Nepal

The entire bereaved family and clan gather in a room around two young boys costumed as cows. Their eyes are ringed with lampblack and streaked with dabs of yellow on their cheeks. Incense and cotton wicks burn as an old priest intones a prayer.

Source:   The Festivals of Nepal by Mary M. Anderson. London: Allen & Unwin, 1971, p. 101.

In Nepal on this day, the victory over Ghanta Karna, a dread demon named Bell Ears, is celebrated. He roamed the land wreaking havoc until a god in the form of a frog tricked Ghanta Karna into leaping after him into a well, where the people then clubbed him to death and dragged his corpse to the river for cremation. On this day the cremation is reenacted.

Source:   Festivals of India by Brijendra Nath Sharma. New Delhi: Abhinav, 1978, pp. 45-47, 93.

This is the day on which Brahmans and Chetri men annually change the Janai, a sacred thread worn around the neck and underarm. It is worn for three months until Laxmi Puja.

The priest visits the home on this day to perform the ceremony of blessing the new thread and installing it on the body. When removed during Laxmi Puja, the thread is tied to the tail of a sacred cow. It is possible to cross the Ghaitarna river after death if a sacred cow will let you cling to her tail and pull you across.

Source:   Festivals of India by Brijendra Nath Sharma. New Delhi: Abhinav, 1978, p. 93.

In Nepal, a procession wends from shrine to shrine through the city of Patan. Oil butter lamps to Lord Buddha are the dominant offering. The festival celebrates Lord Buddha's triumph over the tempting Maras for on this day they finally came to worship him.

Source:   The Nepal Festivals by Ohurba K. Deep. Bhotahity, Kathmandu: Ratna Pstak Bhandar, 1978, pp. 61-64.

This is a day of respect for nagas. Snakes are believed to have their own underground kingdom. Nagas can give wealth and bring rains. Displeased nagas can cause famine or the collapse of one's home.

India

This festival is celebrated throughout the country. On this day people fast and worship cobras, or huge cloth effigies of mythical serpents.

Source:   Festivals of India by Brijendra Nath Sharma. New Delhi: Abhinav, 1978, p. 93.

Nepal

Serpent worship begins with the posting of colorful pictures of serpents on the walls above main doorways. Sweets, cereals and cow's milk are offered to the nagas (serpents) for peace and prosperity.

Source:   The Nepal Festivals by Ohurba K. Deep. Bhotahity, Kathmandu: Ratna Pustak Bhandar, 1978, pp. 61-64.

Pola and Hadaga are agricultural festivals popular mainly in Maharashtra in India. The actual dates differ from region to region, taking place in Shravana (June - July) or Bhadra (August - September).

Source:   Festivals of India by Brijendra Nath Sharma. New Delhi: Abhinav, 1978, p. 93.

This women's festival honors the goddess Parvati and occurs at the beginning of the monsoon season and is called Green Teej. Women visit their parent's home and are sent gifts by their parents. On this day, the goddess was reunited with her husband, Lord Siva. According to mythology, she declared this day holy and proclaimed that whoever invokes her on this day will be blessed with whatever one desires. On these two days married women worship the goddess and pray for long and happy married lives, and peace and prosperity for their children.

Source:   Festivals of India by Brijendra Nath Sharma. New Delhi: Abhinav, 1978, p. 93.