Buddhist river memorial service; offering to spirits of the drowned
A Buddhist ceremony, often held by a river, to console the spirits of those who died by drowning and to offer food to hungry ghosts. The term is specific to Japanese Buddhist practice.
A river segaki service was held during Obon.
The kawa-segaki is performed to memorialize victims of drowning.
施餓鬼 is the general Buddhist service for feeding hungry ghosts, while 川施餓鬼 specifically refers to the ceremony held at a river for the spirits of the drowned.
Compound of 川 (kawa, 'river') and 施餓鬼 (segaki, 'Buddhist service for feeding hungry ghosts'). The exact historical origin is uncertain, but the term reflects the practice of holding segaki rituals at rivers to console water-related spirits.