The First of the Month: A Sacred Day for the Vietnamese
The first day of the month is considered a sacred day in Vietnamese culture, with people offering prayers and rituals to bring good fortune for the coming month. Ancestor worship and the veneration of deities are integral parts of traditional Vietnamese spiritual practices.
As the seventh lunar month, often associated with wandering souls, comes to an end, the eighth lunar month brings new hopes for prosperity and blessings. The act of worshipping ancestors and deities holds profound spiritual significance for the Vietnamese people. However, many individuals are unsure of the proper rituals and prayers, often resorting to improvised invocations.
Nowadays, one can easily purchase prayer books or access websites like ours to find the appropriate prayers for various occasions. Below is an example of a prayer for the first day of the eighth lunar month, accompanied by a photo illustrating the traditional offerings.
First of August: A Day to Worship Ancestors and Deities
Prayer for the Earth God and Deities:
Nam Mo A Di Da Phat! (Recited three times)
We bow our heads in reverence to:
– The Supreme God of Heaven and the Venerable Goddess of Earth
– The East Kitchen God, the Guardian of the Stove
– The Deity of the Land and the Dragon Vein Spirit
– The Five Directions and Five Soil Gods; the Blessings Deities
– The God of Wealth, ruling over the past and future
– All the Gods and Goddesses who preside over this area
Today is the first day of the eighth month of the Year of the Dragon, 2024
We, your faithful followers, with our names as ……………………………………………………..
Residing at ………………………………………………………………..
Sincerely offer our prayers, along with incense, flowers, and various offerings of gold, silver, tea, and fruits, which we humbly present before you.
With utmost respect, we invite:
The Most Honorable God of the Year, the Supreme Deity of the Year
The City God and all the Great Kings
The East Kitchen God, Guardian of the Stove
The Deity of the Land and the Dragon Vein Spirit
The Five Directions and Five Soil Gods, the Blessings Deities, and all the Gods and Goddesses who preside over this area
We humbly beseech you to look upon us with compassion, descend upon this altar, witness our sincerity, accept our offerings, and bestow your blessings upon us. May our family be filled with harmony and peace, our endeavors be blessed with success, and our hearts be open to spiritual growth. May our wishes be granted, and our hearts’ desires be fulfilled.
With sincerity and reverence, we make this offering.
Respectfully,
Prayer for Ancestral Worship on the First Day of the Eighth Lunar Month:
Nam Mo A Di Da Phat! (Recited three times)
We bow our heads in reverence to:
– The Supreme God of Heaven and the Venerable Goddess of Earth
– The City God, the Local Earth God, and the Stove God, along with all other Venerated Deities.
– Our ancestors, both paternal and maternal, and all our deceased relatives (if parents are still alive, replace with paternal and maternal grandparents)
We, your faithful followers, with our names as:…… Residing at:……
Today is the first day of the eighth lunar month of the Year of the Dragon, 2024.
On this special day, we are filled with gratitude for the blessings of Heaven and Earth and the benevolence of all the Venerated Deities. We are also mindful of the virtues of our ancestors. With reverence, we prepare these offerings and light incense to invite you here.
We respectfully invite:
The City God and all the Great Kings
The Local Earth God
The Stove God, the Five Directions, the Dragon Vein, and the God of Wealth
We humbly beseech you to descend upon this altar and witness our sincerity as you accept our offerings.
We also invite our beloved ancestors, our paternal and maternal grandparents, and all our deceased relatives to grace us with your presence, witness our sincerity, and accept our offerings.
We further invite all the wandering souls and spirits residing in this house and on this land to join us and enjoy the offerings. May you bless our family with good health, peace, and prosperity. May we be protected from all calamities and instead, be blessed with abundance and glory in all four seasons and throughout the eight lunar phases.
With sincerity and reverence, we make this offering.
Respectfully,
Offerings for the First of August:
Offerings may vary depending on the preferences of the family, but they typically include flowers, incense, wine, sweets, betel, fruits, sticky rice, and water. For non-vegetarian offerings, families may include boiled chicken or pork, wine, fruits, and dishes such as noodle soup, stir-fried vegetables, fried spring rolls, and various types of sausages. Each family can customize their offerings based on their circumstances.
This information is provided for reference only.
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