Buzz
1. Should you trim or remove incense sticks from the ancestral altar?
Many people believe that an incense bowl filled to the brim with incense sticks, or even overflowing, is more sacred and brings greater wealth.
They don’t have the habit of regularly trimming the incense sticks, allowing them to grow densely, layer upon layer, year after year.
According to Mr. Vu The Khanh (General Director of the Union of Science, Technology, and Applied Informatics UIA), this belief is merely speculative and lacks any basis.
Mr. Khanh explains that trimming incense sticks is one of the most important tasks in altar maintenance. An overly full incense bowl not only collects debris and dust but also poses a high fire risk if not handled carefully.
Other spiritual experts add that failing to trim incense sticks and allowing the bowl to overflow means new incense sticks won’t touch the bowl properly, rendering the act of burning incense meaningless.
Moreover, excessively tall incense sticks act like a “barrier” blocking the view of deities and ancestors, much like sitting with an obstruction in front of you, which can be very uncomfortable.
Therefore, trimming incense sticks on ancestral and spiritual altars is essential and should be done regularly.
2. You don’t have to wait until Tet to trim incense sticks or clean the altar
So, when is the right time to trim incense sticks and clean the altar—before or after the Kitchen God ceremony?
According to feng shui expert Pham Cuong, trimming incense sticks doesn’t have to wait for the Kitchen God ceremony or Tet due to fears of offending the spirits.
Homeowners can choose auspicious days throughout the year to trim the incense sticks, as long as it’s done with sincerity and respect.
Mr. Pham Cuong shared: “With years of experience, I believe that if the incense sticks become too dense during the year, we can choose auspicious days to trim them. This helps prevent fire hazards when burning incense. Additionally, tidying the incense bowl shows respect to our ancestors. If the incense sticks aren’t too numerous, this can be done at the end of the year following tradition, without worrying about taboos."
On this matter, Mr. Vu The Khanh emphasized that the altar should be cleaned whenever it lacks solemnity and purity, or a regular cleaning schedule can be set—there’s no need to wait until Tet.
For households that burn incense daily, the bowl fills up quickly, so trimming can be done monthly or every 2-3 months to maintain cleanliness and aesthetics.
The key is to perform this task with sincerity and seriousness to show respect to the ancestors.
3. What is the correct way to trim incense sticks?
Typically, a household has two altars: the ancestral altar and the Kitchen God altar, both requiring incense stick trimming.
According to feng shui expert Tuan Kiet (Vietnam Feng Shui Company), before trimming incense sticks, choose an auspicious and free day, then burn incense to seek permission before cleaning (purifying) the altar. Request approval from deities, ancestors, and Buddhas to proceed with the cleaning.
After carefully cleaning the altar, remove all dirty incense sticks and clean the incense bowl thoroughly using fragrant water, perfume, rose water, or agarwood water.
Next, reinsert the old incense sticks, keeping only about 5, and place the incense bowl back in its original position (ensure the bowl is neat, neither too full nor too empty of ash, and properly aligned).
The trimmed incense sticks should be burned in a gold incinerator, and the ashes should be scattered in a river or buried at the base of a sturdy tree (avoid young trees as they may die). Never discard incense sticks or other ritual items in the trash or unclean places.
For the Wealth God altar, the trimming process differs slightly:
Prayer to seek permission before trimming incense sticks or cleaning the altar:
Namo Amitabha Buddha! (3 times)
I bow to the nine heavens and the ten directions of all Buddhas.
I bow to the Jade Emperor, the Heavenly King and Earthly Queen, the five directions and five earth dragons, the local land deities, and the Kitchen God.
The devotee is:……… Residing at:……………
I bow to the spirits of our ancestors, the nine generations and seven ancestors, the ancestral grandmothers, the aunts of past generations, the uncles, the red maiden, and the red boy of the X family. (Insert your family name here) residing at…… (insert your home or hometown address here).
Today is the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month (or the 30th day of the 12th lunar month, or a specific date), I humbly request permission to clean the ancestral altar to welcome the new year and bid farewell to the old one, seeking the blessings of the Buddhas.
Saints, ancestors, the ancestral grandmothers, uncles, the red maiden, and the red boy of the X family, please grant your approval.
Namo Amitabha Buddha (3 times)
Note: After more than half a week of burning incense, you can proceed with cleaning, trimming the incense sticks, purifying the incense bowl, and tidying the altar.
4. How to purify the incense bowl without violating taboos?
If the incense bowl is full of ash, use a small spoon to scoop out the ash bit by bit. Avoid grabbing handfuls of incense sticks and carelessly dumping the ash, as ancient beliefs suggest this could "scatter wealth." Refer to year-end altar cleaning guides for more details.
Clean the incense bowl by holding it steady and using a damp cloth soaked in ginger-infused alcohol or fragrant water.
If the bowl shifts slightly during cleaning, remain calm and continue. However, avoid moving the bowl from its consecrated position. After purification, reposition the Buddha, deity, and ancestral tablets as before.
If you plan to replace or reposition the incense bowl, the year-end is an ideal time to do so.
If unfamiliar with rituals, consult a spiritual expert. When purchasing a new incense bowl, ensure it fits the altar’s size, with the deity’s bowl being the largest.
Use burnt rice straw to collect ash for the new bowl. Pour the ash naturally without shaking or compressing it.
After repositioning or replacing the bowl, use a clean bamboo branch or flower dipped in ginger alcohol to sprinkle on the bowl (a traditional method to purify it).
"Once the altar is arranged, offer ceremonial items to honor the Buddhas, deities, and ancestors. This is an effective and scientific approach.
Cleaning the altar doesn’t have to wait until after rituals. You can clean first, then arrange the offerings neatly and respectfully. This helps resolve any missteps or improper arrangements," added feng shui expert Tuan Kiet.
