What is Tanabata festival ?
Tanabata (literary, the evening of the 7th) means the annual Star Festival in connection with Japanese culture. It is celebrated on July 7th or in rural areas a month later according to the lunar calendar.
   The festival has its origin in an ancient Chinese legend involving the Cowherd Star, or HIKOBOSHI (Altair) and the Weaver Star, or ORIHIME (Vega) of the Milky Way. According to the legend, the two stars had fallen in love and did not work hard, so the tutelary god of the skies put them on the opposite side of the Milky Way and allowed them to meet only on that day of the year −if the weather is clear.
   To pray for their happy reunion, Japanese people hang long narrow strips of colored paper and other decorations on bamboo branches which are placed outside of the house. Children also write their wishes on pieces of paper and hang on the bamboo branches as well. Thus, Tanabata Festival involves the whole family and is widely celebrated in homes and schools regardless of religious affiliation. If it rains on that evening, however, it is said that the Milky way will be flooded and the two lovers will lose their once a year chance to meet each other.
   This legend assimilated to TAMA-matsuri which is traditional festival in Japan for many years to pray for and appease the souls of the dead, and it became a present style by merging with bon celebrations.
ISF 2nd Annual Tanabata Festival
July 7, 2004
   On July 7th, ISF/NY organized the 2nd Annual Tanabata Festival at the Interfaith Center of New York. Ms. Kathy Hobbs, ISF EVP opened the evening with a greeting to our guests and introduction of ISF programs and the ceremony.

   During the evening, there was an offering of Tea to the Altar, a traditional Maiden dance performed by Ms. Mayumi Kan and Ms. Terumi Fukushima surrounded by seven bamboo branches, (anonymously donated), to enhance the beauty of the celebration.

   We were delighted this year to include wishes for world peace from seventy Japanese children attending Tokyo Inagi 3rd grade elementary school along with multiple wishes from children living in New York City, all of which will be placed on the bamboo branches.