Buzz
The fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month, annually celebrated as the Vu Lan Festival, is a time for descendants to express gratitude to their ancestors who have passed away. The seventh lunar month's fifteenth day is also known as the day of freeing souls from suffering. Families often perform rituals to honor wandering souls or those yet to be liberated. However, many ponder whether honoring ancestors alone suffices, or if honoring wandering souls is necessary on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month.
To Perform or Not to Perform Ancestral Worship on the Fifteenth Day of the Seventh Lunar Month
1. Rituals of Honoring Wandering Souls
The practice of honoring wandering souls has been a longstanding spiritual activity in our nation. According to folk beliefs, the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month is when the gates of hell open, allowing wandering souls to roam freely on earth. After the fifteenth day, the gates of hell will close. Hence, families often perform rituals to honor wandering souls, praying for peace and prosperity for their families.
For families engaged in business and trade, the ritual of honoring wandering souls is often highly regarded. People usually conduct these rituals on the 2nd and 16th days of the lunar month to pray for undisturbed business activities and for wandering souls to bless their ventures with smooth and favorable outcomes. The most significant occasion for honoring wandering souls each year is on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month, coinciding with the Vu Lan Festival in Buddhism.
However, depending on individual circumstances, many people are unsure and concerned about whether to perform ancestral worship on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month. According to Venerable Thich Dieu Nha (from Linh Son Thanh Nhan Pagoda - Hanoi), honoring wandering souls is a spiritual ritual and therefore not obligatory. It is a matter of the heart and merits of each homeowner. Properly performed rituals of honoring wandering souls can bring great benefits to the homeowners.
2. Performing Ancestral Worship at Home
Ancestral worship can be conducted either at temples or at home. Homeowners should familiarize themselves with the procedures of ancestral worship at home to ensure the ritual is performed with full solemnity, bringing prosperity and luck to the family.
- Firstly, ancestral worship on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month should be conducted outdoors or at the main entrance of the household. It is advisable to perform the ritual in the evening and avoid midday when sunlight is strong. However, it is essential to first perform rituals to honor deities and ancestors before conducting ancestral worship.
- The ancestral worship altar should include rice, salt, flowers, lamps, candles, incense, a bowl of water, gold and silver paper, and various colorful clothes. Families should also prepare vegetarian dishes such as boiled sweet potatoes, boiled cassava, popcorn, candies, and cakes. A pot of thin rice porridge is a special dish that should not be missed in the ancestral worship ritual.
The homeowners dressed modestly, selecting auspicious directions and times to conduct the rituals, yet an eerie atmosphere lingered. Upon completing the offerings, they patiently waited for the incense to burn out before scattering rice and salt in the yard, at the gates, along the pathways, and cleaning up afterwards.
For a deeper understanding, delve into the meticulous preparations for the mid-7th lunar month offerings, ensuring thoroughness in every aspect. Honoring the wandering souls is a crucial ritual; any misstep could invite unwanted spirits into the home. Families must understand the intricacies of preparing for the mid-7th lunar month offerings and the rituals of honoring ancestral spirits during the mid-7th lunar month.
Alongside other festive occasions, the 15th day of the 1st lunar month, also known as the Lantern Festival, holds significant importance in Vietnamese culture. Traditionally celebrated on the 15th day of the 1st lunar month each year, it aims to usher in a year filled with luck, health, and prosperity for the household. Do you know how to conduct offerings on the 1st lunar month, aligning with cultural customs and traditions, while also demonstrating sincere reverence towards the Buddha, ancestors, and elders?
