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Doan Ngo festival, also known as the Summer Solstice or Pest-killing festival, is one of Vietnam's traditional celebrations, occurring on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month. However, not everyone is aware of the optimal time to conduct the Doan Ngo festival ritual during the day. Explore this article to discover the right time for the Doan Ngo festival.
When to perform the Doan Ngo festival ritual? Morning, Noon, or Night?
1. Performing the Doan Ngo Festival Ritual at What Hour?
On the 5th day of the 5th lunar month each year, the Doan Ngo festival takes place. In 2021, this corresponds to June 1st in the Gregorian calendar, marking Doan Ngo day. Traditionally, people usually perform the ritual in the early morning, but for optimal timing, it's recommended to conduct the Doan Ngo ritual during the Ngọ period on the 5th day of the lunar month. 'Doan' signifies the beginning, and Ngọ is the time frame starting from 11 AM - 1 PM.
During Doan Ngo, the weather tends to become hotter. This marks the seasonal transition, leading to the proliferation of insects and pests that can harm crops. Hence, people often perform rituals to exterminate pests and offer incense to ensure a prosperous harvest.
According to ancient beliefs, the human body harbors hidden insects and pests. If not eliminated, they can cause harm. These creatures usually emerge on the 5th day of the lunar month, so it's essential to perform rituals to exterminate them. This can be done by consuming sticky rice wine, fruits, and special foods on this 5th lunar day.
- Explore more: Doan Ngo Tet Wishes
2. Offerings for the Doan Ngo festival
Doan Ngo Tet marks the seasonal transition, the time with the most abundant fruits, right after the harvest. Therefore, fruits are indispensable on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month. However, the specific offerings for Doan Ngo may vary based on regional specialties and customs.
Performing the Doan Ngo ritual on the 5th day has the significance of concluding one agricultural season and expressing hope for a fruitful harvest in the coming season. The offering tray for pest-killing on the 5th day usually includes:
- Incense, gold paper, flowers
- Sticky rice wine, water
- Various fruits such as: Lychee, apricot, banana, watermelon, pomelo ... (Among them, Lychee and apricot are indispensable, representing the distinctive features of Doan Ngo Tet).
- Sticky rice
- Rice wine
- Tea (In some northern regions, floating tea is commonly used)
- Banh gio (Characteristic of Central and Southern Vietnam, and some northern regions)
Depending on the region, people will prepare the offering tray with some variations. For example, in Hue, the offering tray on the 5th day cannot lack Che ke, while in the Central region, the tray may include Banh u la tre ...
3. Ritual writing, prayers for Doan Ngo Tet
In addition to the offerings, special attention needs to be given to the ritual writing and prayers for Doan Ngo Tet to ensure the proper conduct of the ceremony.
Doan Ngọ Festival Essay
Here, we've shared information on when to conduct the Doan Ngọ festival. We hope you've found the most useful insights.
Alongside the ritual timing, Mytour also provides insights on choosing fruits for Doan Ngọ Tet. Learn the art of selecting fruits for Doan Ngọ Tet to offer on this pest-killing day. Additionally, to prepare for the upcoming Year of the Tiger, find out What day is the first day of Tet 2022 and organize your tasks to be ready for the festive season.
