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What is the 15th Day of the 7th Lunar Month? Origin and Significance Explained.

The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Vu Lan Bao Hieu, is a significant Buddhist holiday in Vietnam. It is a day dedicated to honoring and expressing gratitude towards one's ancestors, grandparents, and parents. The festival serves as a heartfelt reminder of the importance of filial piety and the value of family bonds. It is a time when children show their deepest appreciation and repay the debt of love and care owed to their elders.

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11 July, 2024

Uposatha (ngày 15/7 Âm lịch) is a major holiday for Vietnamese Buddhism, also known as Vu Lan, when children express gratitude and repay the debt of their parents’ and ancestors’ kindness. It is also the day of the Hungry Ghost Festival.

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1 What is the 15th day of the 7th lunar month?

The 7th lunar month is associated with the Hungry Ghost Festival, which originated in China, and has since spread to many other Asian countries. However, each country has its own unique cultural practices.

During the Eastern Han Dynasty, there was a Taoist belief – a religion that introduced the concept of the “15th day of the 7th lunar month” as the start of the Zhongyuan Festival, beginning on the 1st day of the 7th lunar month (the “opening of the ghost gate”) and ending on the 30th day (the “closing of the ghost gate”).

Zhongyuan Festival – Ghost Month

This day is also known as the day of “Pardoning the Dead” or “Hungry Ghost Festival”, “Offering Food to the Hungry”. It is also related to the “opening and closing of the ghost gate”, when the hungry ghosts who died unjustly, without anyone to worship them, will be allowed to enter the mortal world to enjoy the offerings and receive gifts from the living.

According to Vietnamese beliefs, this day is also known as the Vu Lan Festival, a celebration of filial piety to our parents and ancestors “Vu Lan returns, children wear yellow roses to honor their parents.”

Vu Lan returns, children wear yellow roses to honor their parents

See also: Ancestor Worship Rituals – Full and Proper

2 Origin and Meaning of the 15th day of the 7th lunar month

The 15th day of the 7th lunar month is the Vu Lan Festival

According to folk tales, the 15th day of the 7th lunar month originated from the story of Bodhisattva Maudgalyayana – one of the outstanding disciples of the Buddha. Upon hearing that his mother was suffering in the realm of hungry ghosts, he used his magical powers to find her and offer her food. However, as the food reached his mother’s mouth, it turned into flames. Distraught, Maudgalyayana returned to the Buddha for guidance on how to save his mother. The Buddha said, “Even with your great magical powers, you cannot save your mother. Only by joining forces with monks from all directions can she be rescued. The 15th day of the 7th lunar month is an auspicious day to invite monks, so prepare offerings for that day.” Following the Buddha’s instructions, Maudgalyayana was able to save his mother. Since then, the 15th day of the 7th lunar month has been regarded as a day to honor our parents.

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Vu Lan Festival of Filial Piety

See also: What else happens in the 7th month? These

The 15th day of the 7th lunar month is the Pardoning of the Dead

According to the “Buddha Speaks of Saving the Burning Mouth Hungry Ghost Sutra”, the Hungry Ghost Festival in the 7th month is related to a story between Ananda and a fire-mouthed hungry ghost. One evening, as Ananda sat in his meditation room, he saw a hungry ghost with a thin, long neck and a mouth that spewed fire approaching him. The ghost told him that in three days, Ananda would die and be reborn as a fire-mouthed hungry ghost like itself. Terrified, Ananda begged the ghost to show him how to avoid this fate. The ghost instructed him to “Offer food to the hungry ghosts tomorrow, and make offerings to the Triple Gem on my behalf, and you will gain longevity while I will be reborn in a higher realm.” Ananda relayed this story to the Buddha, who then composed the “Cứu Bạt Diệm Khẩu Ngạ Quỷ Ðà La Ni” sutra to be recited during the ritual, bringing additional blessings.

Buddha Speaks of Saving the Burning Mouth Hungry Ghost Sutra

3 When is the 15th day of the 7th lunar month in 2022?

This year, the 15th day of the 7th lunar month falls on Friday, August 12, 2022, in the Gregorian calendar. Thus, the celebrations will take place from the 2nd to the 14th day of the 7th lunar month, which is from Monday, July 30, 2022, to Saturday, August 11, 2022, in the Gregorian calendar.

When is the 15th day of the 7th lunar month in 2022?

4 Rituals for the 15th day of the 7th lunar month

Offerings for the 15th day of the 7th lunar month

typically include offerings to the gods, ancestors, and hungry ghosts. The basic offerings for this day usually consist of , miến mọc soup, green bean xôi, , chả nem, …

Offerings to the gods include and xôi or bánh chưng (unwrapped but not cut into pieces). This should be accompanied by , chè, fruits, .
Offerings to the ancestors are similar to regular ancestral offerings, which can be either vegetarian or non-vegetarian, depending on the circumstances of the living family members.

Offerings to the gods and ancestors

Offerings to the hungry ghosts should include , , fruits, cards, clothes, , , paper money, water, 3 small cups, 3 sticks of incense, and 2 small candles.

The ritual for the hungry ghosts is usually performed outdoors or in front of the main entrance of the house. The host will recite the prayer or the text of the ritual according to their wishes and spread their compassion for the hungry ghosts, wishing for their liberation from the suffering of the mortal world. After the ritual, the rice and salt are scattered in the yard, while the paper money is burned.

Offerings to the hungry ghosts

Prayer for the 15th day of the 7th lunar month

is essential during the rituals to ensure the family’s good health, prosperity in business, peace, and to prevent disturbances from wandering souls.

Prayer for the Hungry Ghosts 1

We respectfully invite the Ten Directions Triple Gem to witness.

Today is the …………….We

Our names are…………..

We live at number ……………………………………

With sincere hearts, we set up a sacred altar, prepare a feast of nectar, and pray for the safety of our homes and our lives. Through this merit, may our family be peaceful and prosperous in business, may our lineage be blessed by the Dharma, and may our children excel in their studies. We pray for world peace and happiness for all beings.

We respectfully invite:

Hungry ghosts from Kunlun Mountain.

In the three periods, there are countless hungry ghosts.

Like the sands of the Ganges River.

Men and women, young and old.

Oh! You hungry ghosts, listen to me.

In life, you suffered endless sorrows. In death, you rely on a bowl of rice and a leaf.

How pitiful is the life of a hungry ghost!

Born into this world, who knows why?

Following the Buddha’s teachings, we offer this food.

A bowl of water and a stick of incense.

May it become a golden robe.

May it help you ascend to heaven.

Whoever comes here, please stay and enjoy.

Do not be shy, there is plenty for everyone.

Through the power of the Dharma, little becomes much.

May the Venerable Ones share this food with all beings.

May the compassionate Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha bless us.

Whether they exist or not, may they be liberated.

Homage to the Buddha, Homage to the Dharma, Homage to the Sangha.

May all beings be liberated and ascend to higher realms.

Mantra to transform food: Homage to Saptatathagata, Arahana, Samyak-Sambuddha, Tadyatha, Om, Sam-ba-ra, Sam-ba-ra, Adu-ba, Sam-ba-ra, Sam-ba-ra, Hrih (3 times).

Mantra for offerings: Om, nga nga, tam-ba-vat, bhad-raya, hum (3 times).

Prayer for the Hungry Ghosts 2

We respectfully invite the Ten Directions Triple Gem to witness.

Today is the ………month……year………………( m lunar).

My name is:…………………..age……………….I live at number …, street…, ward (commune)… , district (county) ……………, province (city):…………………

We respectfully invite all invisible beings, both great and small, the ten types of hungry ghosts, ghosts of soldiers who died in battle, and victims of disasters, to come and enjoy this feast…

With sincere hearts, we set up a sacred altar, prepare a feast of nectar, and pray for the safety of our homes and our lives. Through this merit, may our business prosper, may all our wishes be fulfilled, may our lineage be blessed by the Dharma, and may our children excel in their studies. We pray for world peace and happiness for all beings.

Homage to the Buddha, Homage to the Dharma, Homage to the Sangha. May all beings be liberated and ascend to higher realms.

Mantra to transform food: (Transform food into abundance).

Homage to Saptatathagata, Arahana, Samyak-Sambuddha, Tadyatha, Om, Sam-ba-ra, Sam-ba-ra, Adu-ba, Sam-ba-ra, Sam-ba-ra, Hrih (7 times).

Mantra for nectar water: (Transform water into abundance).

Namo Tu-lo-ji-da, Tatagata, Dat-da-datha, An, Tu-lo, Tu-lo, Ba-la-tu-lo, Ba-la-tu-lo, Svaha (7 times).

Mantra for offerings: Om, nga nga, tam-ba-vat, bhad-raya, hum (7 times).

4 What to do and what to avoid during the 15th day of the 7th lunar month

As it is the month of hungry ghosts, there are many spiritual practices to be aware of:

Do not go out at night during the Hungry Ghost Month, as it is believed that ghosts roam freely after dark.
Do not burn paper money or joss paper, as it may attract ghosts.
Do not pluck leg hairs, as it is believed that “one leg hair controls three ghosts,” and plucking them during this month may bring bad luck.
Do not hang clothes out to dry at night, as ghosts may “borrow” them.
Do not eat offerings meant for the ghosts.
Do not pick up loose change, as it may be money offered to ghosts, and the finder may suffer the consequences intended for the original owner.
Do not hang wind chimes above your bed, as they may attract ghosts.

Frequently asked questions

It is a traditional festival called ‘Trung Nguyen’, a time when people pay respect to their ancestors and the deceased.

The 15th day of the 7th lunar month marks the end of the ‘ghost month’, a period when it is believed that the spirits of the dead are free to roam the earth. It is a time for people to show their gratitude and respect towards their ancestors and to remember the deceased. People offer prayers, food, and other offerings to their ancestors and the deceased, believing that it will bring them good fortune and peace.

People often visit temples or pagodas to pray and make offerings. They also prepare special foods, such as ‘com ruou’ (a type of glutinous rice dish) and ‘xoi’ (sticky rice), which are believed to be favored by the spirits. Lanterns are also released into the sky, symbolizing the release of the spirits back to their world.

While the traditional beliefs and practices are still followed by many, the festival has also evolved to include more modern activities. People may gather with their families for a meal, exchange gifts, or simply use the opportunity to remember and honor their loved ones who have passed away.