The Most Authentic Traditional Ritual Prayers for Tết Đoan Ngọ 2023

What is Tết Đoan Ngọ?

Tết Đoan Ngọ, also known as the Pest Extermination Festival or the 5th of the 5th lunar month, is a time when people prepare offerings for their ancestors and spirits at noon. The significance of this day is to exterminate pests and insects that pose a threat to health.

Therefore, on Tết Đoan Ngọ, as soon as people wake up, they usually eat fruits, drink wine, or consume certain dishes depending on the region. The purpose of this practice is to eliminate the insects and pests residing within the body, causing illness.

Meaning of Tết Đoan Ngọ Ritual Prayers

A folk tale has been passed down from generation to generation:

On a day coinciding with the harvest season, all human crops were plagued and consumed by pests. On the 5th of May, an elderly man who called himself Đôi Truân appeared, guiding farmers on how to prepare offering trays to drive away those pests.

In addition, he also instructed that every year on this day, people should hold offering ceremonies to eradicate harmful creatures from the fields. Therefore, on Tết Đoan Ngọ, people offer trays with the aim of praying for abundant harvests in that year.

In these offering ceremonies, the Tết Đoan Ngọ ritual prayers play a role in requesting blessings from the deities. When recited, the prayers bring blessings to the individual or family reciting them, expressing their hopes to the heavens and earth for confirmation.

What items should be included in the offering tray for Tết Đoan Ngọ?

Apart from the Tết Đoan Ngọ ritual prayers, paying attention to the offering tray is also essential. Depending on personal preferences or regional customs, the contents of the offering tray may vary. Below are the common types of items that typically appear in the offering tray on the 5th of May in the three regions of North, Central, and South Vietnam:

• North Vietnam: Rice wine, burnt rice cake, various fruits, fermented glutinous rice, sweetened rice, incense, flowers, gold paper, water.
• Central Vietnam: Rice wine, burnt rice cake, fruits, layered cake, duck meat, incense, gold paper, fermented glutinous rice, water.
• South Vietnam: Rice wine, sticky rice cakes, floating cakes, fruits, incense, gold paper, water, fermented glutinous rice.

Ritual prayers for Tết Đoan Ngọ indoors

Namo Amitabha Buddha! (3 times)

I bow to the nine directions, to all Buddhas in the ten directions.

We respectfully honor the Heavenly Empress, the Earth Deities, and the Honored Deities.

We respectfully honor the Guardian of the Citadel, the Land Spirits, the Household Deity, along with the Honored Deities.

We respectfully honor the Ancestors, Elders, Brothers, Sisters, Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins...

Our faithful followers are: ...

Currently residing at: ...

Today is the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, the Tết Đoan Ngọ day. Our devoted followers wholeheartedly prepare offerings, burn incense, and present offerings before the altar.

We humbly invite Your Majesty, the Sovereign of the Realm, Great Kings, the Divine Spirits of the Earth, the Guardians of the Household, and the Celestial Beings, to graciously witness our sincere devotion and partake in the offerings.

We respectfully invite our Ancestors, Elders, and Ancestral Spirits, both near and far, to show compassion towards their descendants' earnest hearts and accept these offerings.

To the Landlords, Past and Present, of this domain, who have ensured our safety and prosperity through the ages, granting us peace and tranquility without bounds, we offer our heartfelt reverence and seek your benevolent protection.

Homage to Amitabha Buddha! (3 times)

Ritual prayers for the Divine Spirits on the occasion of the Dragon Boat Festival in the courtyard

Homage to Amitabha Buddha! (3 times)

I pay my respects to the nine heavens and the ten directions of Buddhas.

I respectfully bow to the Heavenly Emperor, Earthly Deities, and Honored Spirits.

I humbly bow to the Sovereign of the Realm, the Divine Spirit of the Earth, the Guardian of the Household, and all Honored Deities.

I respectfully bow to our Ancestors, Elders, Brothers, Sisters, Cousins, both near and far, from our lineage...

Our faith leaders are: ...

Currently residing at: ...

Today is the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, on the occasion of the Dragon Boat Festival. Our faithful devotees wholeheartedly prepare offerings, including flowers, tea, and fruits, to present before the altar.

We respectfully invite the Sovereign of the Realm, Great Kings, the Divine Spirit of the Earth, the Guardian of the Household, and the Celestial Beings. We beseech Your presence to witness our sincere devotion and partake in the offerings.

We extend our invitation to our Ancestors, Elders, and Ancestral Spirits, both near and far, from our lineage... We implore your compassion towards your descendants and accept these offerings.

Our faithful leaders respectfully invite the Past and Present Landlords of this house and land, who have ensured our safety and prosperity throughout generations. May our lives be blessed with peace and tranquility, thriving through all seasons and occasions. We offer our sincere homage and seek your benevolent protection.

Homage to Amitabha Buddha! (3 times)

The above writings are ritual prayers for the Dragon Boat Festival 2023 that you can apply. Prepare your offerings and earnestly pray so that your family may be blessed with many blessings. Stay tuned to Mytour to not miss out on important news updates.