Tips

Should You Visit Your Ancestor’s Tomb and Offer Incense on the 15th Day of the 7th Lunar Month?

Cemetery visits and grave tending are age-old traditions that honor the deceased. The act of tending to one's ancestors' graves is a heartfelt way to express gratitude and remember their legacy. The seventh lunar month, often known as the Ghost Festival, presents an opportune time to pay respects by visiting and offering incense at the graves of departed loved ones.

Administrator

18 July, 2024

The seventh month of the lunar calendar is considered inauspicious, and some activities are restricted during this month. Let’s explore whether it is advisable to visit and offer incense at the graves of ancestors during this time.

1 Is it advisable to visit and offer incense at the graves on the 15th day of the seventh month?

According to traditional beliefs, the seventh month is considered the festival for the deceased. Therefore, visiting and offering incense at the graves of ancestors is deemed a respectful and thoughtful gesture. It allows you to express your longing, gratitude, and respect for your departed loved ones.

It is advisable to visit and offer incense at the graves on the 15th day of the seventh month

Additionally, engaging in this practice during this period can help balance your emotions and bring a sense of peace and lightness to your mind. Paying respects to your ancestors during this month is believed to bring calmness, good fortune, and ward off any bad luck.

For further insights:

2 Rituals and offerings for the 15th day of the seventh month at the graves

Timing for visiting the graves on the 15th day

Timing for visiting the graves on the 15th day of the seventh month

On the 15th day of the seventh month, you can visit and offer incense at the graves at any time of the day, as long as it aligns with your family’s religious beliefs. However, it is advisable to avoid the hour of noon (11 am-1 pm) as the yang energy is believed to be at its peak during this time, making it unsuitable for inviting the deceased. Similarly, refrain from visiting the graves after the hour of Dậu (5 pm-7 pm) as the yin energy in the cemetery is believed to be strong, and it is not advisable for descendants to linger there.

Offerings for the rituals

When visiting the graves, it is customary to prepare two sets of offerings: one for the deities and the other for the departed ancestors. The specific offerings may vary depending on your family’s traditions, but here are some suggestions:

Offerings may include cakes, candies, and fruits

Offerings for the deities: Incense, flowers, fruits, and cooked meat. Place these offerings at the altar dedicated to the deities in the cemetery or next to the ancestral offerings but at a higher position.
Offerings for the ancestors: Candles, incense, flowers,, cakes, candies, and .

Furthermore, it is believed that during the 15th day of the seventh month, one should refrain from offering paper money or gold and silver ingots as it may lead to disputes among the wandering souls over the possessions of the deceased.

For additional guidance: Offerings and rituals for ancestral worship and deity veneration

Incantations for the rituals

Here is an incantation for ancestral worship on the 15th day of the seventh month:

Nam mo Phat Bon Su Thich Ca Mau Ni!

Nam mo thap phuong phap gioi thuong tru Tam Bao tac dai chung minh!

We respectfully invite the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Noble Saints to bear witness and bestow blessings upon us. We humbly invite the Heavenly deities who govern this cemetery (name)… to descend upon this place, witness our sincerity, and lend their support to our family.

My name is:…

My Buddhist name is:…

I currently reside at:… Our family has burial plots here at this cemetery.

Today is the … day of the … month of the … year… On this occasion of the seventh month, a time of joy for the Buddhas and when the monks bestow blessings upon all beings, we turn our thoughts to our ancestors, departed family members, and the lonely and hungry ghosts residing in this cemetery. We have prepared food and drinks with sincerity and offer them to you.

As a devoted disciple, I sincerely practice under the guidance of my Master and the monks of Ba Vang Pagoda (insert the name of the pagoda where you practice), and with my sincere refuge in the Three Jewels, I invite the ancestors of the (insert family name) family and the lonely and hungry ghosts in this cemetery to gather here, receive the power of the Three Jewels, listen to the Dharma, and accept the food and drinks offered by our family.

Nam mo Phat Bon Su Thich Ca Mau Ni! (Ring the bell once and bow once)

For further guidance:

This concludes our insights on visiting and offering incense at the graves on the 15th day of the seventh month. Thank you for reading, and stay tuned for more articles on our website!