Rằm tháng Giêng (Tet Nguyen Tieu) stands as one of the paramount festivals of the year. Hence, alongside preparing a complete offering tray, families also ready the most precise Rằm tháng Giêng ritual to beseech for prosperity and peace for the entire family.
The standardized invocation for Rằm tháng Giêng 2022, invoking blessings from deities and ancestors
1. Rằm tháng Giêng 2022 Offering Ritual
There are numerous Rằm tháng Giêng invocations for deities, ancestors, and outdoor offerings. Make sure to pay attention to select and recite the correct invocation.
* Outdoor Invocation for Rằm tháng Giêng
Namo Amitabha Buddha! (3 times)
I bow to the nine heavenly realms, the ten directions of Buddhas, and the myriad Buddhas of the ten directions.
I respectfully bow to the Heavenly Emperor, the Earthly Emperor, and all the Deities.
I respectfully bow to the Guardian Spirits of the Land, the Local Spirits, and the Kitchen Gods, along with all the other revered spirits.
I respectfully bow to the ancestral spirits, elder siblings, younger siblings, cousins, and relatives.
Our belief is:...
Residing at:..
Today is the Lunar January Full Moon of the Year of the Tiger 2022, coinciding with the Yuanxiao Festival. With sincere hearts, we light incense, prepare offerings, and present them before the altar.
We respectfully invite the Heavenly Emperor, the Guardian Spirits of the Land, the Kitchen Gods, the Five Directions, the Dragon Veins, and the Spirits of Fortune. We humbly request that you heed our invitation, descend to accept our offerings, and witness our sincere hearts.
We respectfully invite our ancestral sages, elder siblings, and ancestral spirits from both our paternal and maternal lineages... to listen to our earnest plea and accept the invitations from the descendants, witnessing our sincere intentions and enjoying the offerings.
We, the believers, respectfully invite our grandparents, ancestors, and predecessors to return and partake in the offerings, bearing witness to our sincere hearts and protecting our family with blessings for good fortune throughout the year, experiencing peace and prosperity in all seasons.
Namo Amitabha Buddha! (3 times)
* Invocation for Rằm tháng Giêng spirits
Namo Amitabha Buddha! (recite 3 times)
I respectfully bow to the nine heavenly realms, the ten directions of Buddhas, and the myriad Buddhas of the ten directions.
I humbly bow to the Heavenly Emperor, the Earthly Emperor, and all the Deities.
I respectfully bow to the Eastern Guardian Deity.
I humbly bow to the Guardian Spirit of the Land, the Dragon Veins.
I respectfully bow to the Five Directions, the Five Elements, and the Deities of Fortune.
I humbly bow to the Earthly Lords of Wealth and Prosperity.
I respectfully bow to the local guardian spirits within this area.
Our belief is:... residing at:...
Today is the day of... month... year..., with sincere hearts, we prepare flowers, offerings, and incense to present before the altar.
We sincerely invite: The Duke of the Heavenly Stewardship, the Guardian Spirits of the Land, the Great Emperors, the Eastern Guardian Deity, the Guardian Spirit of the Land, the Dragon Veins, the Deities of Fortune, and the local guardian spirits within this area.
* Rằm tháng Giêng Offering Ceremony Indoors, Ancestor Worship
Our belief is:... residing at:...
With sincere hearts, we extend invitations to: The Sun Star, the Northern Dipper, the White Tiger, the Yellow Emperor, the Wen Xing, the Wu Qu, the Twenty-Eight Constellations, and the Five Elemental Stars to descend and accept our invitations.
On the Lunar January Full Moon day, following the customary tradition, with sincere hearts, we prepare offerings, betel leaves, areca nuts, and incense to offer before the altar, inviting the celestial beings to partake and protect our entire family, ensuring health, peace, and prosperity in all endeavors.
May the sky lanterns illuminate the earthly realm. May the celestial beings bestow their blessings and grace upon us. Though our offerings may be modest, our hearts are full of sincerity. May our destinies find tranquility and our residences be filled with auspiciousness.
We humbly beseech!
Guidelines for Celebrating the Lunar January Full Moon
2. What is Needed for Celebrating the Lunar January Full Moon?
Apart from the Lunar January Full Moon ritual, celebrating this Nguyên Tiêu Tet day also requires preparing an offering tray. This tray should be complete, similar to the Tet feast, and must include bánh chưng/xôi gấc (sticky rice cake with red glutinous rice) and boiled chicken. The chicken is considered highly sacred, while the red glutinous rice symbolizes luck and prosperity.
Other dishes on the offering tray include stir-fried vegetables, sausage, and pork rolls... Additionally, do not forget to prepare fresh flowers, candles, wine, gold, incense, betel leaves... The composition of the Lunar January Full Moon offering tray varies depending on each family, tailored to fit the financial, cultural, and customary conditions of the region.
- Learn more: Gold offerings for Lunar January Full Moon
When preparing for the Lunar January Full Moon ritual in 2022, after completing the offering tray, remember to place it on the main altar in the house and conduct the ritual at the hour of the Horse, from 11 am to 1 pm on the 15th day of the lunar January to invite ancestors and spirits for blessings.
- See details: Auspicious timing for Lunar January Full Moon ritual