Top 12 Prayers Commonly Used During the Lunar New Year

Nam Mo A Di Da Phat (3 times)

I respectfully offer my prayers to the Nine Directions of Heaven, the Ten Directions of the Buddhas, and all Buddhas in the Ten Directions.

I humbly pray to the Jade Emperor, the King of Heaven, the Five Directions, the Earth Spirits, the Dragon Vein Earth Spirits, and the East Trù God of Fate.

The devotee's name is:

Residing at the address:

Today, the date is... I acknowledge that my offerings may have gathered dust and I sincerely apologize.

The devotee respectfully requests permission from the deities (depending on the altar’s deities, guardian spirits, or ancestors…) to clean and purify the altar, so it may remain respectful and sacred. I humbly ask for the blessings and protection of all spiritual beings.

May the spirits help me clean and purify the altar, setting everything in its proper place, and ensuring peace for the ancestors’ resting place and the household.

As mortals, full of flaws, I ask for forgiveness if I have made any mistakes. Please pardon me and offer your blessings for a prosperous year ahead.

(Complete with 3 bows).

After the incense burns out, begin cleaning the altar. It’s recommended to use warm water, wine, or ginger water to clean the sacred items.

First, remove the items to be cleaned (note: never move the incense bowl, as doing so may bring misfortune if it’s moved in the wrong direction).

Prepare a large, high table, covered with red cloth or paper. Place all the sacred items (spirit tablets, portraits, flower vases, bowls of water, etc.) neatly on the table. If the altar holds both ancestral tablets and deities, separate them onto different spaces. Never clean directly on the altar.

Use a clean cloth soaked in ginger wine to wipe each sacred item, then dry with another cloth. Clean each item carefully, ensuring they are properly arranged and respectful.

After cleaning the spirit tablets, proceed to clean the incense bowl. Only leave three incense sticks for a living person. For bowls of the deceased within three years, leave seven sticks for men and nine sticks for women. For the gods’ incense bowl, trim all incense sticks, leaving only five.

Once the altar is cleaned and incense trimmed, replace the offerings, change the water, and refill the rice and salt jars (if available), then pray to invite the gods and ancestors back.

According to ancient tradition, the Vietnamese believe that on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month each year, the Kitchen Gods return to heaven to report on the events of the past year to the Jade Emperor. Therefore, every year on the 23rd of January (lunar calendar), families prepare offerings, fruits, and prayers to bid farewell to the Kitchen Gods. The following prayer is recited during the ritual.

Nam Mo A Di Da Phat (Repeat 3 times).
We respectfully pray to the East Trù God, the Kitchen God.
We, the followers, are: ...........................
Residing at: ...................................

On this 23rd day of the 12th month, we respectfully offer incense, flowers, food, clothes, shoes, hats, and ceremonial items before the altar. We humbly invite the Kitchen God to descend and accept these offerings.
Following tradition, we recognize the Kitchen God as the Head of the Household, overseeing all family matters, witnessing human deeds. We sincerely repent for any misdeeds throughout the year and respectfully ask for the God’s forgiveness, blessings, prosperity, and protection for all family members—both young and old, men and women—bringing peace and safety to the family.

We respectfully invite the Nine Heavens Kitchen God, the Household’s Spirit, and all deities who govern our family. May they bring good fortune, safety, and health, resolve misfortunes, and grant blessings in the new year. We humbly ask for your protection and support in fulfilling our wishes and bringing blessings to our household.

This is one of the prayers commonly used during the Lunar New Year.

The beauty of Vietnamese culture has long been associated with the tradition of visiting ancestors' graves at the end of the lunar year. This practice has become deeply ingrained in the hearts of every Vietnamese person. The grave visitations typically take place between the 20th and 25th of the last month of the lunar year, until the end of the year, depending on each family's circumstances. In addition to tidying up the ancestral graves, families prepare offerings and light incense to invite their ancestors to return and celebrate the new year together.

Nam Mô A Di Đà Phật (Recite 3 times)
We respectfully worship:
Ngài Kim Niên Đương Cai Thái Tuế Chí Đức, Tôn Thần, Kim Niên Hành Binh, Công Tào Phán Quan.
Ngài Bản Cảnh Thành Hoàng Chư Vị Đại Vương.
Ngài Bản Xứ Thần Linh Thổ Địa Tôn Thần.
Ngài Ngũ Phương, Ngũ Thổ Long Mạch Tôn Thần, Tiền Chu Tước, Hậu Huyền Vũ, Tả Thanh Long, Hữu Bạch Hổ, and all other divine beings ruling over this land.
We respectfully worship the soul of our ancestor: .................................
Today is the 30th of the last month of the lunar year, as winter draws to a close and the new year approaches.
We, the descendants of: ..........................., offer our respect with food, flowers, incense, and other ceremonial items, requesting that our ancestors return to celebrate the new year with us, as we honor and repay their kindness. May the gods look kindly upon us and accept our humble offering, as we offer our deep respect.
We humbly ask for your blessing.
Respectfully!

This prayer can be used on the 30th day of the lunar year for the grave visitation ceremony, inviting the spirits of the ancestors to return and celebrate the new year. If it is not possible to visit the graves, an offering can be made at the family altar on the 30th, around noon, to invite the ancestors to join in the New Year's celebrations.

Nam Mô A Di Đà Phật (Recite 3 times)

Today is the 30th of the last month of the lunar year.
The old year is ending, and the new year is approaching. As we prepare for the New Year, we, the family of................, born in................. and residing in...................., Province....................... and all relatives, humbly offer our respect.
We respectfully worship the City God, the Earth God, and the great deities of the land.
We respectfully worship the first-generation ancestors, the great-grandparents, and all the deceased members of the family.
We respectfully worship the spirit of our ancestors.
After many years of separation between the living and the dead, we now bring offerings of incense, candles, fruits, flowers, wine, and other ceremonial items, asking the spirits to return and bless us in the coming year. May we show our gratitude and filial piety through our offerings and prayers.

We humbly ask the gods to accept our offerings and prayers, and to bless us with prosperity and harmony in the new year.
Respectfully!

Typically, the Year-End Ceremony is held on the 30th of the lunar year, and the accompanying prayer offers an opportunity for families to seek blessings for prosperity and good fortune in the coming year. It is also a moment to express gratitude to the gods and ancestors who have watched over and assisted the family throughout the year. Below is a prayer that will guide you, ensuring you don’t encounter any difficulties while performing your rituals on the last day of the year.

Nam Mô A Di Đà Phật (Recite 3 times)

We respectfully worship: The Heavenly Emperor and all the gods of the earth and the land.

Ngài Kim Niên, the ruler of the Year's Fate, the Great Deity of Blessings.

Ngài Bản Cảnh, the City God and all the great deities.

Ngài Bản Xứ, the Earth God, and Ngài Định Phúc, the God of Fortune.

All gods overseeing the land and the local spirits who govern this area.

Today is the 30th day of the last lunar month of the year .........................................
We, the family of: ..........................................................................
Residing at: ..................................................................................
Before this altar, we humbly present our offerings of food, flowers, and incense. With great respect, we honor the gods and ancestors with a bountiful feast to bid farewell to the past year and welcome the new one. We pray that the gods, ancestors, and spirits bless us, our family, and all generations, ensuring a prosperous and peaceful year ahead. May all our endeavors be successful, and may every person in the household experience peace and happiness throughout the coming year.

May the four seasons bring no misfortune, and may the eight seasonal transitions bring only good omens. With sincere devotion, we humbly ask for your blessing.

Respectfully!

This prayer is used during the moment of the New Year's Eve, a solemn and important ritual. As part of the ceremony, offerings such as five fruits, gold paper, incense, flowers, candles, betel and areca nuts, wine, tea, sticky rice cakes, sweets, and a full table of either vegetarian or non-vegetarian food are prepared. This prayer is commonly used during the Lunar New Year.

We respectfully worship:

The Future Buddha, Metteya.

The Heavenly Emperor and the earth deities.

The City God and all the great deities of the land.

The Earth God and the God of Fortune, Táo Quân.

The gods of the land and the spirits that govern this area.

Our ancestors, both paternal and maternal, and all the spirits of our forebears.

At this moment of the New Year's Eve, the year of ................................................. has just passed.
We are the family of: .........................................................................
Residing at: .................................................................................
As the New Year draws near, we, with sincerity, prepare offerings of incense, flowers, food, and other ritual items, to pay homage to the Buddha, the deities, and our ancestors. We humbly ask for your presence and blessings as we offer these prayers and express our deepest respect.

We humbly invite: The City God, the Earth God, Táo Quân, the Five Directions deities, the guardian spirits of this area, as well as the souls of our ancestors, to descend and receive our offerings.

We respectfully invite the spirits of all past and present family members, both the living and the deceased, to gather and accept our humble offerings and prayers.

We ask that you bless us with good health, prosperity, peace, and success in all our endeavors. May the new year bring happiness and good fortune to all members of our family, and may we continue to be guided by your divine protection and favor throughout the year.

With a sincere heart, we ask for your acceptance of our offerings.

Respectfully!

Performing the Household Deities Prayer on the first day of the Lunar New Year is a key tradition for every family. Below is the prayer to invite the gods to join in the celebration of the New Year with the family.

Nam Mô A Di Đà Phật (Recite 3 times)

We respectfully worship:

The Future Buddha, Metteya.

The Heavenly Emperor and all the earth deities.

The City God and all the great deities of the land.

The Earth God, and the God of Fortune, Táo Quân.

Today is the first day of the lunar month, the beginning of the Lunar New Year.

We, the family of: .........................................................................
Residing at: ..................................................................................
On this New Year's Day, we, the faithful, are filled with gratitude towards Heaven, Earth, and the deities, and acknowledge the ongoing protection of our ancestors. We present offerings and set the altar with incense, tea, fruit, and other items before us as a token of our respect.

We humbly invite:

• The ruler of the Year, the Great Deity of Fate.
• The City God and all the great deities of this area.
• The Earth God, and the God of Fortune, Táo Quân.
• The gods of the Five Directions and the guardian spirits of this land.

We ask that you come and accept our offerings, granting us blessings and favor.

We also invite the souls of our ancestors, both paternal and maternal, as well as all the spirits of the departed, to join us and partake in the offerings.

We humbly ask for your blessings: Good health, prosperity, and success in all endeavors. May we be protected from misfortune and may all our wishes be fulfilled. May the spirits guide us through the year ahead with favor and grace.

With sincere hearts, we humbly ask for your acceptance of our offerings.

Respectfully!

In addition to honoring the Household Deities, it is also extremely important to pay respects to the ancestors on the first day of the Lunar New Year. During the three days of the New Year, families typically offer prayers to their ancestors each day, with the first day being the most significant. Below is the prayer for honoring the ancestors on New Year's Day.

We respectfully worship:

The Future Buddha, Metteya.

The souls of our ancestors: Great-Grandparents, Grandparents, Uncles, Aunts, and all our departed relatives, both paternal and maternal.

On this New Year's Day, as the year turns, we gather with great respect to honor the memory of our ancestors. We offer fruits, flowers, incense, and other ritual items, as a token of our deep appreciation and remembrance. We humbly ask for their presence and blessings as we pay tribute to their wisdom and guidance.

We invite the souls of our ancestors to descend and receive our humble offerings. May they bless our family with peace, prosperity, and happiness. We pray for a year of good fortune, harmony, and success, with no misfortunes or hardships, and may every wish be fulfilled according to our hearts' desires.

We also invite the spirits of the departed who may still linger in the area to join us in this sacred occasion. We express our deepest gratitude and respect.

With sincere devotion, we ask for your acceptance of our offerings.

Respectfully!

After inviting the ancestors to join the New Year's celebrations for the first three days of Tết, on the third evening (the third day of the Lunar New Year), it is customary for the descendants to formally send them off to their resting place in the spirit world, a tradition known as 'sending off the ancestors' and offering symbolic gold for them. Below is the prayer to bid farewell to the New Year:

Nam Mô A Di Đà Phật (Recite 3 times)

We respectfully worship the Heavenly Emperor and all the earth deities.

We respectfully worship the current year’s ruler, the City God, the Earth God, the God of Fortune, and the guardian spirits of the land.

We also honor the souls of our ancestors, both paternal and maternal.

Today is the third day of the first lunar month, the year ...................................
We, the family of: ..................................................................
Residing at: .................................................................................
With heartfelt devotion, we present offerings of incense, flowers, wine, and food, respectfully placed on the altar. We humbly ask for permission to conclude the Spring Festival and send our ancestors back to the spirit world.

We ask that you continue to bless us with good fortune and protection, both in life and in death, and that our family remains safe, prosperous, and peaceful. May our ancestors' spirits continue to watch over us with kindness and benevolence.

We offer our humble prayer, and with sincere respect, ask for your acceptance of our offerings. May our devotion be accepted and our prayers heard.

Respectfully!

On the Full Moon of January, people commonly perform a ritual to offer prayers for the stars, hoping to avoid bad luck and misfortunes for the year ahead. This ceremony is also an opportunity to pray for a year of peace, happiness, and good fortune. Below is a traditional prayer often used during the Lunar New Year.

Today is the full moon of January, the year .................
We, the undersigned: ..........................
Residing at: .........................
We sincerely invite the following deities:
Sun God, Heavenly Emperor of the Solar System
South Star, Northern Star Deities
Jupiter, Venus, the God of the Year
North Pole, the God of Wisdom and Virtue
Literary Stars, such as Wen Chang and Wen Qu
The Twenty-Eight Mansions, Five Elements Star Deities
La Hou, Ke Do Star Deities
We humbly ask for your presence to hear our invitation:

On the Full Moon of the Lunar New Year, as tradition dictates, we offer our prayers and presents: betel nuts, areca leaves, incense, flowers, and tea. We light incense and place offerings on the altar, respectfully inviting you to bless us and protect our family. We pray for our family’s health, prosperity, and peace throughout the year, and for harmonious relationships in our household, where everyone listens to one another.

May the celestial lights shine brightly
Lighting the mortal realm
We request the deities
To bestow mercy and blessings
Our offering may be humble,
But our hearts are sincere,
We pray for safety, stability, and health.
Respectfully!

The New Year's Eve ceremony, also known as the ritual of clearing the old year, marks the transition from the old year to the new. It is believed that each year is overseen by a celestial official who manages human affairs. As one year ends, the current official returns to the heavens and hands over their responsibilities to the new deity for the coming year. Below is a prayer for the outdoor New Year's Eve ceremony:

Nam Mô A Di Đà Phật (Recite 3 times)

We respectfully honor:

The future Buddha, the Coming of Di Lặc.

The Heavenly Emperor and Earth Lords.

The former year's celestial officer.

The current year's celestial officer (name the official for the current year) and all the heavenly lords who oversee the region.

We now enter the moment of New Year's Eve, the passing of the old year, and the welcoming of the new. As the old year ends and the new one begins, the auspicious time has come. The celestial officers are called to oversee the transition, bestow blessings, and ensure good fortune for the year ahead. With the arrival of the new Spring, we offer our prayers and rituals, lighting incense and presenting offerings to honor the gods.

We humbly invite: The former year's celestial officer, the current year's officer, the god of the village, the local deities, the gods of wealth, and all other divine beings who govern the region.

We ask that you descend, receive our offerings, and bless us with health, prosperity, and peace. May our family be protected from misfortune, and may all our wishes be fulfilled throughout the year.

We respectfully offer this prayer and ask for your divine protection. May the four seasons bring good fortune, and may every moment be filled with blessing.

With utmost sincerity, we humbly ask for your guidance and protection.

Respectfully!

Nam Mô A Di Đà Phật!

Nam Mô A Di Đà Phật!

Nam Mô A Di Đà Phật!

We respectfully honor the Buddha ................. (whom the family venerates). Today is the 30th day of the last lunar month, the eve of the Lunar New Year of ................. (name of the lunar year), and we, the undersigned, are ................. (husband's name), along with my wife ...................... (wife's name) and our children, humbly offer this prayer to the Buddha.

On behalf of our family, we send our warmest wishes to the Buddha for the arrival of the New Year.

We express our deepest gratitude to the Buddha for the blessings and protection bestowed upon us throughout the past year, which have brought us great fortune. We respectfully invite the Buddha to descend and accept our offerings, and to continue watching over and guiding our family.

We humbly bow (3 times, 3 bows).