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Worshipping Ong Cong Ong Tao to the heavens is a traditional ceremony of the Vietnamese people. This article will share with you the most authentic and complete ritual for worshipping Ong Cong Ong Tao in accordance with tradition.
1. Timing for Worshipping Ong Cong Ong Tao
When should you worship on the 23rd day of the last lunar month? According to Feng Shui experts, the worship of Ong Cong Ong Tao must be performed before 12:00 PM on the 23rd day of the Lunar December. Families can conduct the ceremony at noon or in the evening on the 22nd day of December.
2. Rituals for Worshipping Ong Cong Ong Tao
To send Ong Cong Ong Tao back to the heavens, families need to prepare 3 red carp and release them into a water basin, placed next to the altar. The carp symbolizes the transformation into a dragon, escorting Ong Cong Ong Tao back to the celestial realm.
Homeowners need to prepare a complete and precise written offering for Ong Cong Ong Tao. After the offering, when two-thirds of the incense has burned, bring out the gold horse, and when it's completely burned, pour three cups of wine into the ash. Finally, release the carp in the pond for life propagation.
The place for the worship ceremony can be the ancestral altar, without necessarily setting up an additional Tao Quan altar.
3. Selecting Carps for Ong Cong Ong Tao Worship
The ritual of worshiping Ong Cong Ong Tao is incomplete without carps. Red carps are usually chosen for the worship. When selecting carps, choose healthy ones. To check, touch the water's surface; if the fish swims quickly and vigorously, it meets the criteria.
When bringing the fish home, release them into a basin or bowl of clean water. Avoid using your hands to scoop the fish multiple times from one place to another. When releasing the fish in a pond, lake, river, or stream, choose a location with clean, unpolluted water. Note that when releasing the fish, go to the water's edge and release them; never stand high and throw or splash the fish down.
4. Ritual Items for Ong Cong Ong Tao Worship
- Tao Quan Hats: Consisting of 2 hats for gentlemen and 1 hat for ladies.
Note that gentlemen's hats should have two wings, while ladies' hats do not require them.
- The savory offering for Tao Quan includes: 1 plate of rice, 1 plate of salt, 5 liang of boiled shoulder meat, 1 bowl of mushroom soup, 1 plate of mixed stir-fry, 1 plate of sausage, 1 plate of red sticky rice, 1 plate of candied fruit, 1 pot of lotus tea, 3 wine cups, 1 grapefruit, 1 areca nut, betel leaves, 1 small peach blossom vase, 1 chrysanthemum vase, 1 bundle of money, and a gold horse. The offering cannot be complete without live or fried carp, as the carp is believed to be the means for Ong Tao to ascend to the heavens.
Presently, many homemakers use boiled chicken with rose petals or dishes like mushroom soup, mushroom hotpot, or meatball soup instead of the traditional offerings.
Typically, the offerings and rituals include tea, cakes, and candies, with the hope for a 'sweet-tongued' Tao Quan. It may not be necessary to prepare the complete savory feast mentioned above.
According to ancient customs, specifically for households with children, it is customary to offer an additional boiled chicken to Tao Quan. This chicken should be of the fighting breed (meaning a young chicken) to symbolize the hope that Tao Quan will seek blessings from the Jade Emperor for the child to grow up with determination and vitality, much like a fighting rooster.
5. Key Considerations for Conducting the Ritual of Worshiping Ong Cong Ong Tao
- Perform the ritual before 12:00 PM on the 23rd day of the Lunar December, the time when Ong Cong Ong Tao ascends to the heavens.
- Dress modestly and cleanly during the ceremony to demonstrate the homeowner's respect for the celestial deities.
- When reciting the written offering, maintain a serious attitude, speak loudly, clearly, and with fluency.
- Place the worship offerings on the ancestral altar or set up a separate Tao Quan altar, avoiding placement under the kitchen stove.
- Release the carp into the water gently at the edge, avoiding dropping them from a height.
6. Ritual Prayer for Worshiping Ong Cong Ong Tao
Below is the ritual prayer for Ong Cong Ong Tao shared by a Feng Shui expert:
I humbly pay respects to the Earth Deity Long Mach Honored Spirit. The five elements and five earths bring prosperity and blessings to the Deity.
The faithful disciple(s) are:... Residing at:…
Today, on the 23rd day of the Lunar December, the faithful disciple(s) sincerely prepare offerings, don ceremonial attire, and respectfully present to the deity. Igniting the incense with a devoted heart, the faithful disciple(s) pay homage with reverence.
We respectfully invite the Eastern Guardian, Tao Phu, Divine Forces, to graciously manifest and partake in the ritual offerings.
Every year, as the end of the lunar year approaches, in the final month of December. Families prepare silver offerings with gratitude for the abundant blessings from the protecting deities. We earnestly seek the divine assistance for:
Harmony reigns in the kitchen and life flourishes, outwardly beautiful and inwardly sincere. Seeking your understanding, we sincerely ask for honesty. May you help bring prosperity. Everyone enjoys warmth, and the household resonates with positive vibes. Success in every endeavor, and a home filled with auspicious energy. Countless blessings and virtues abound.
We humbly request the benevolence of the divine to forgive any transgressions committed by our family in the past year. May the divine bestow blessings and protection upon our entire family—old and young, ensuring abundant health, safety, and prosperity, with all things going well.
With sincere hearts, we bow in reverence, seeking divine assistance and enduring support.
Homage to the Buddha! (3 times)
Above is the shared ritual for worshiping Ong Cong Ong Tao that every family should be aware of. We hope this article will help you prepare for the Ong Cong Ong Tao ceremony most comprehensively.
