Prayer at the grave

Today I went to my parents' grave with my husband.

We go there to pray three times a year. In March, August and September. I think almost all Japanese do so.

Japanese people respect ancestors very much. Especially Buddhists do.

This is one of the annual events.

What's this?

Can you say what this is?

We are living with my husband's mother who is eighty-four years now.
She enjoys growing various kinds of vegetables all the year round. So I don't have to buy vegetables. Thanks to her, we can eat fresh ones.

These are sesame trees.
After drying them, she takes out sesame seeds.