Ohigan

Hello. Thank you for your question. I received a question from an acquaintance, “I can't go visit graves during the equinox due to the COVID-19 pandemic, what should I do,” so I'll also introduce the answers to that here.

Originally, the “equinox” was regarded as a “period of ascetic practice for doing good deeds,” but it seems that at some point it became a “day for memorial services for ancestors and visiting graves.” People in the old days probably chose ancestral memorial services (visiting graves) as a familiar good act.

Well, there may be ways of thinking depending on the region, but I've never heard of the custom of having to visit graves twice at the beginning of the equinox and at dawn. What comes to mind when I hear the word twice is during Obon, and in the area where I live, there is a custom of visiting graves twice during Obon. The person who told me may have confused it with that.
I don't think it's necessary to visit graves twice during the equinox, but this doesn't mean “you should do it once,” and I think it's fine as many times as you like, every day if you feel like it.

Currently, I think there are people who are too far to visit graves due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but if you follow it in the first place, Ohigan is not a “grave visiting day,” so I think it's a good idea to follow the original meaning and try to do good deeds that benefit people.

　I'm thankful that Hiro-san is going to visit graves. My temple also has a graveyard, but please keep good manners when visiting graves.
I've never heard that you have to go at the beginning and end of the equinox season. Maybe you misunderstood Obon?
Please pray with your family once a week during the equinox season. Also, please visit the temple on Chunichi (Autumnal Equinox Day).
Visiting graves is ① offering a memorial service to your ancestors ② reviewing and reflecting on your own actions ③ being able to pray for the health and peace
Keep at least these 3 things in mind.
It was written in the magazine PRESIDENT that people who visit graves and make memorial services for their ancestors are also good at work. It's not for work, but I want to have peace of mind when I go to visit graves.

Of course you can pray as many times as you like
Praying only once is enough.

The more prayers
It feels like accumulating virtue
If you are praying to accumulate virtue
It's putting the cart before the horse.

It may depend on the denomination, so I can't say for sure, but I've never heard of people praying at the beginning and dawn of the equinox.
Originally, Ohigan is a period of Buddhist practice. It has merged with ancestor worship, etc., into its current form.
Returning kindness to your ancestors is also a very important Buddhist practice, so if you pray with all your heart, I think it would be fine even once.
Of course, there is no upper limit for holding a memorial service, so there is no mistake even if you go there many times.
Please hold a memorial service to the extent that you can.