Easter Sunday Christians celebrate the renewal of life through the resurrection of Christ. Around the same time of year, April 8, Buddhists celebrate Hanamatsuri, a festival celebrating the birth of Buddha about 2500 years ago. We attended a Hanamatsuri, organized by the International Buddhist Congregation of Rissho Kosei-kai. In the ceremony, I participated in the flower and candle offering as one of two representatives from America. People from many countries and faiths were present and all speakers talked of peace, compassion, and living harmoniously in a sometimes difficult world. Roo enjoyed seeing Mommy in a ceremony. Ryan enjoyed the Indian food stall with warm naan. We all loved the taiko drum performances. It was a warm spring day. 
According to legend, various kinds of flowers and sweet dew rain down from the sky when Shakyamuni Buddha was born in the spring sunshine in the Lumbini Garden (now Nepal). To honor this day, a flower decorated miniature shrine (hanamido) is displayed. Families take turns pouring sweet herb tea (amacha) over the statue of the Infant Buddha. The flowers represent the Lumbini Garden and the sweet tea symbolizes the sweet rain that is said to have come down from the heavens to bathe the body of the newborn baby. The infant Buddha took seven steps, pointed his right hand to the sky and his left hand to the earth and proclaimed “Above and below the heavens, I alone am the World-Honored One.” This is interpreted as a profound view of life, not just for the Shakymuni Buddha, but also each living, precious, irreplaceable person on earth. Unlike many statues of a meditative Buddha who remains seated, the Shakymuni Buddha is most often standing. A posture that reminds that the Buddha is always ready to step forward, anytime, anywhere, and swiftly take actions to aid others. This is the approach to life practicing Buddhists seek for themselves.
According to legend, various kinds of flowers and sweet dew rain down from the sky when Shakyamuni Buddha was born in the spring sunshine in the Lumbini Garden (now Nepal). To honor this day, a flower decorated miniature shrine (hanamido) is displayed. Families take turns pouring sweet herb tea (amacha) over the statue of the Infant Buddha. The flowers represent the Lumbini Garden and the sweet tea symbolizes the sweet rain that is said to have come down from the heavens to bathe the body of the newborn baby. The infant Buddha took seven steps, pointed his right hand to the sky and his left hand to the earth and proclaimed “Above and below the heavens, I alone am the World-Honored One.” This is interpreted as a profound view of life, not just for the Shakymuni Buddha, but also each living, precious, irreplaceable person on earth. Unlike many statues of a meditative Buddha who remains seated, the Shakymuni Buddha is most often standing. A posture that reminds that the Buddha is always ready to step forward, anytime, anywhere, and swiftly take actions to aid others. This is the approach to life practicing Buddhists seek for themselves.
The Suginami Daiko drum group performed during the ceremony, and after in the courtyard.
A traditional tea ceremony. 
These woman are playing the Koto, the national instrument of Japan. It has13 strings that are strung over 13 movable bridges along the length of the instrument. Players adjust the string pitches by moving these bridges and use three finger picks to pluck the strings. 
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