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1. Worshipping Ong Cong Ong Tao under the stove
This is a common mistake when worshipping Ong Cong Ong Tao that many people make. They believe that Ong Cong, as the god of the land, should be worshipped on the main altar inside the house, while Ong Tao, who oversees the kitchen, should be worshipped under the stove. Therefore, on the 23rd day of the lunar December, some families prepare two altars for worship, one placed on the ancestral altar and the other under the stove.
The altar for worshipping Ong Cong Ong Tao on the 23rd day of the lunar December
However, according to spiritual experts, this practice of worshipping is completely wrong. The altar should be placed on the ancestral altar or have a separate altar for Tao Quan, instead of under the stove. Because the kitchen is a place for cooking, with a lot of oil and grease, not clean, so worshipping here will lack the necessary solemnity.
2. Worshiping money in the underworld
When worshipping the Kitchen Gods, homeowners should refrain from burning hell banknotes as the Kitchen Gods are celestial beings, not spirits of the underworld. Additionally, on this day, many people spend significant amounts, even millions of dong, buying gold paper offerings with the belief that a table laden with these offerings will bring wealth and dispel misfortune throughout the year.
However, this is a wholly misguided practice as it brings no benefits and contributes to environmental pollution.
3. Misconception: The more offerings, the better
Many families believe that the more offerings they present, the more blessings they will receive from the Kitchen Gods. However, this belief is unfounded and leads to unnecessary waste and expenditure.
Preparing offerings for the Kitchen Gods does not require elaborate arrangements; what matters is the sincerity of the homeowner towards the deities overseeing the land and the kitchen.
Homeowners should prepare the following offerings: steamed fish, boiled chicken, sticky rice or square glutinous rice cakes, soup bowl, stir-fried dish, fruit platter, gold paper money, betel leaves, water, wine, and tea.
The offering table for the Kitchen Gods does not need to be extravagant; what matters most is the genuine sincerity of the homeowner.
Note that during the ritual, one should be sincerely respectful, dressed modestly, solemn, and recite the incantations clearly and distinctly.
4. Mistake: Incorrect Ritual of Releasing Carps
The ritual of worshiping the Kitchen Gods is incomplete without carps. Many families use paper carps adorned with golden cloth and money or release real carps into ponds or lakes.
Many people, when releasing carps, often make gestures of throwing them down from above or release them along with plastic bags, which reduces the chances of the carps surviving.
Therefore, absolutely do not stand on high places such as bridges or elevated locations to toss the carps down; instead, let them into the water gently from the shore. Also, do not keep the carps in plastic bags and then throw them into the water, as it not only kills the fish but also pollutes the water source.
Absolutely avoid releasing fish from a height, as it can cause them to die.
Furthermore, people should choose clean water sources to release fish, avoiding polluted water environments to increase the survival chances of the fish.
5. Conducting the Ritual of Worship after 12 PM on the 23rd of Lunar December
Worshiping the Kitchen Gods should be done before the 23rd of Lunar December, not necessarily on the exact day but it must be completed before 12 PM on the 23rd of Lunar December. According to folk belief, the heavenly gates close after noon. Therefore, if the ritual is performed too late, or if the fish are released after noon, the Kitchen Gods may not ascend to the heavens.
Above are 5 mistakes in worshiping the Kitchen Gods that you should absolutely avoid. Hopefully, this article will help you avoid these mistakes when performing the rituals on this day.
