NORWALK — The Southeast Japanese School and Community Center is celebrating its 50th annual Cultural Festival and Ondo on July 27 and 28.

The ondo? practice sessions are being held on Mondays and Thursdays, from 7:30? to 8:30 p.m., and are open to public.

Venice Hongwanji Buddhist Temple is also hosting its Obon Carnival on July 27-28 and the odori practice will take place at the temple on Mondays and Wednesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. until Monday, July 22.

Gardena Buddhist? Church will also host ondo practice every Tuesdays and Thursday at 7 p.m. until the Obon Festival on Aug. 3-4. Most of the organizations listed below are hosting dance practice sessions, which are open to the public, prior to the matsuri.

July 20:Buddhist Church of Santa Barbara, 1015 E. Montecito St., Santa Barbara, 1 to 7 p.m. (dance: 4 and 6 p.m.) Obon service at 11 a.m. prior to the festival. For information, call (805) 483-5948 or visit www.buddhistchurchofsantabarbara.org/obon.

July 20-21:Zenshuji Soto Mission, 123 S. Hewitt St., Los Angeles, (Sat.) 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (dance: 6:30 p.m.), (Sun.) 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (dance: 6:45 p.m.) For information, call (213) 624-8658 or visit www.zenshuji.org/.

July 20-21:Nishi Hongwanji Los Angeles Betsuin, 815 E. First St., Los Angeles, (Sat.) 2 to 9 p.m. (dance: 7 p.m.), (Sun.) 2 to 9 p.m. (dance: 6:30 p.m.) Hatsubon service at 2 p.m. both days prior to the festival. For information, call (213) 680-9130 or visit www.nishihongwanji-la.org/.

July 27-28:Higashi Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 505 E. Third St., Los Angeles, 1 to 9 p.m. (dance: 6:30 p.m.) For information, call (213) 626-4200 or visit http://hhbt-la.org/.

July 27-28:Southeast Japanese School and Community Center, 14615 Gridley Rd, Norwalk, (Sat.) 3 to 10 p.m. (dance: 7 p.m.); (Sun.) 2 to 8 p.m. (dance: 6:30 p.m.) For information, call (562) 863-5996 or visit www.sejscc.org and click “50th Cultural Festival.”

July 27-28:Venice Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 12371 Braddock Dr., Culver City, (Sat.) 3 to 9 p.m., (Sun.) 1 to 9 p.m.(dance: 6:30 p.m. both days) For information, call (310) 391-4351 or visit http://vhbt.org/.

Aug. 3-4:Gardena Buddhist Church, 1517 W. 166th St., Gardena, (Sat.) 3 to 10 p.m. (dance: 6 p.m.), (Sun.) 2 to 9 p.m. (dance: 6 p.m.) For information, call (310) 327-9400 or visit www.gardenabuddhistchurch.org/.

— RYOKO OHNISHI

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