In my culture, we dedicate a day to celebrate our deceased ancestors, known as El Dia De los Muertos. On Nov. 1, we remember our departed relatives by visiting gravesites and making shrines with many of their personal objects and things they once enjoyed during their time on this earth.

So when Chris Kubo and the Cortez Buddhist community invited me to pay homage to their ancestors as part of the annual Obon Festival, I was thrilled and excited to learn about another tradition. I had the privilege of wearing Japanese traditional summer wear known as a yukata and learning many of the dances that are performed during the festival.

The annual Cortez Obon Festival will be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday in the parking lot between Cortez Hall and Cortez Buddhist Church on Cortez Avenue.

Visit www.turlockjournal.com to view the Obon dancing segment of "Nancy Tries..." You can also offer suggestions of places and people for me to visit at facebook.com/turlockjournal or by emailing nangel@turlockjournal.com.