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According to folk customs, every family conducts rituals to welcome Thần Tài, seeking luck and prosperity for the new year. However, choosing the auspicious direction for Thần Tài's day, the procedures for Thần Tài worship on the 10th day of the Lunar New Year, including how to arrange the altar, and the Thần Tài invocation essay, are details not all households are familiar with.
Offerings for the Thần Tài ritual on the 10th day of each month, especially on the 10th day of the Lunar New Year.
1. How to Prepare Offerings for Thần Tài Worship?
Differing from ancestral altars, Thần Tài altars are typically placed in a corner or near the main entrance, symbolizing the welcoming of prosperity into the home.
Traditionally, the ritual of worshiping Thần Tài on the 10th day of the Lunar New Year involves preparing offerings such as fresh flowers, grilled snakehead fish, fresh shrimp, a plate of roasted pork, bananas, sea crab, and a cup of water. Additionally, many families buy gold to place on the Thần Tài altar for worship, believing that wearing this gold will bring luck and prosperity throughout the year.
The 10th day of the Lunar New Year is considered the most auspicious for Thần Tài worship. Moreover, on the 10th day of every lunar month, families should prepare simple offerings like fruits and vegetarian items for worship. Those involved in business should pay special attention to this practice.
2. What is the Optimal Time for Thần Tài Worship on the 10th day of Lunar New Year?
As per Feng Shui experts, the best time to perform the Thần Tài worship ritual on the 10th day of the Lunar New Year in the Year of the Quý Mão is from 9 AM to 11 AM or from 11 AM to 1 PM. If you're pressed for time, you can also conduct the worship ritual between 3 PM and 5 PM on the same day.
3. Keeping the Thần Tài Altar Clean
One fundamental principle for a Thần Tài altar is to keep it clean to attract prosperity. This applies not only to Thần Tài but also to anything related to spirituality and beliefs, requiring cleanliness and utmost avoidance of dirt and moisture. It is crucial not to place the altar near areas like bathrooms, trash bins, or pathways to ensure a sense of solemnity and cleanliness.
To express gratitude and spiritual intent, on the 10th day of each lunar month, homeowners should clean the altar and present fresh offerings to seek luck and prosperity for the family's business. When arranging ritual items, careful consideration is crucial to avoid purchasing inappropriate items and to make cost-effective choices. Readers can refer to the article on what to include in Thần Tài worship for the most appropriate selections.
4. New Year Gold-Buying Tradition
In the ritual of worshiping Thần Tài on the 10th day of the Lunar New Year, it's common to include real gold as a symbol of prosperity. In recent years, Vietnamese people tend to believe in buying gold on the 10th day of the Lunar New Year. According to Feng Shui experts, purchasing gold on this day brings luck throughout the year and ensures business success.
Depending on economic conditions and individual goals, one can buy a corresponding amount of gold. Specifically, for prosperity, one might buy 5 taels of gold, for wealth, 2 taels, and for luck, 1 tael of gold. Therefore, it's not surprising to witness the annual scenes of crowded people queuing at gold shops on the 10th day of the Lunar New Year, hoping to buy a bit of gold for good luck.
5. Key Considerations on Thần Tài Worship Day
According to Vietnamese beliefs, Thần Tài worship, like Ancestor worship, must be conducted meticulously and respectfully. To gain divine approval and protection, observe the following during the ritual:
- Cleanse and purify the altar, Thần Tài, and Địa with ginger water and grapefruit blossom perfume before performing the ritual.
- Arrange the altar correctly, with Thần Tài on the left, Địa on the right, and the incense bowl in the middle. Rice, salt, and water pots are placed between the two deities, flowers on the right, and a tray of five fruits on the left.
- Avoid offering artificial fruits or flowers to Thần Tài.
- Use electric lights instead of candles.
- Dress modestly and solemnly during the ritual.
- Place the altar in a clean, airy location with good ventilation.
- After the offerings:
+ Keep rice and salt inside the house, do not dispose of them.
+ Sprinkle water and alcohol around the house.
+ Half of the offered sweets should be kept for consumption, and the other half distributed to neighbors for luck.
+ Keep real gold with you, but melt down gold-plated items.
Here is the way to perform Thần Tài worship on the 10th day of the Lunar New Year for increased wealth and prosperity. Feel free to apply these practices to ensure a successful and prosperous business year.
