Things to note and good dates and times to worship Ong Cong Ong Tao in 2025
Báo Dân trí•21/01/2025
(Dan Tri) - According to researcher Pham Dinh Hai, each region has its own customs, but there are still some common points to note when worshiping Ong Cong Ong Tao.
Some points to note when worshiping Tao Quan The Tao Quan worship ceremony (or Ong Cong Ong Tao worship) is usually held from the 17th to the 23rd of the 12th lunar month every year. According to cultural researcher Pham Dinh Hai, Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, there are some points to note when buying offerings, preparing trays of food, and prayers when worshiping Ong Cong Ong Tao. Offerings to Tao Quan are prepared depending on the family's conditions and local customs and practices with basic dishes including sticky rice, rice soup, wine, votive paper, betel and areca, chicken, pork and fruit... In addition to the offering tray, families need to prepare 3 sets of dragonfly-wing hats and shoes. Carp is offered as a "horse" for Tao Quan to return to heaven, and can be used as a live fish or paper fish. Offerings to the Kitchen Gods cannot lack three sets of dragonfly-wing hats and shoes (Photo: Hong Anh). When performing the ceremony, the homeowner needs to wear neat and tidy clothes, should not wear short clothes, short skirts or revealing chests or armpits. You can call all the children in the family to perform the ceremony together. The prayer must clearly state the date and time, the homeowner's full name, and the address of the place of residence. The gods that must be invited are Tao Quan - Tho Cong (Mr. Cong means Tho Cong) and the family gods. The full names of the gods must be stated, not briefly. Specifically, they include: Dong Tru Tu Menh Tao Phu Than Quan, Ngu Phuong Ngu Tho Phuc Duc Chinh Than and Ngu Phuong Long Mach Tiep Dan Tai Than. In particular, in the prayer, families need to "review" the right and wrong things during the year, honestly admit their mistakes and vow to correct them (this part can be recited silently in the mind). Good deeds should be clearly reported to encourage the whole family, mistakes need to be learned from. Praying like this is truly sincere, receptive, and promotes the meaning of the ceremony. After the offering, the burning of votive offerings should be done slowly, waiting for each item to be almost burned before burning the next item to avoid smoke, dust, and fire. Do not use a stick to stir up the ashes and dust. While burning votive offerings, the homeowner should think of good things or chant Buddha's name, recite the mantra "Um a hong" to increase blessings. The ashes of the votive offerings should be left to cool, wrapped tightly and thrown into the trash to protect the environment. Families who offer live carp should find a suitable place to release them. When releasing the fish, they should find a place with clear water and gently release the fish. Release the fish with a sincere heart, aiming for noble meanings. When releasing, use both hands to bring the fish close to the water surface and then release it. Do not throw or fling the fish from above. Carp can be shaped from sticky rice and jelly on the offering tray (Photo: Pham Thanh Ha).Good days and hours to worship Ong Cong Ong Tao in 2025 Researcher Pham Dinh Hai said that according to the book Ngoc Hap Ky , in 2025, you should worship Tao Quan from December 18 to 23, the common time is from 5 to 7 pm. If you choose a day and time to worship, do it according to the following days and hours: Day 18 (Binh Tuat): 11-15 am or 17-19 pm. Day 20 (Mau Ty): 7-9 am, 13-15 pm or 17-19 pm. Day 22 (Canh Dan): 9-11 am or 19-21 pm. Day 23 (Tan Mao): 9-11 am, 13-15 pm or 19-21 pm. The annual Nom prayer for the Kitchen God ceremony (for reference) After the homeowner has finished preparing the offerings and burning incense, they can pray as follows: I respectfully bow to the Kitchen God of the East Kitchen! I respectfully bow to the household gods, the local gods, the local tutelary gods, the Five Directions and Five Roads Dragon Veins Wealth God, the Five Directions and Five Lands God of Good Fortune, and the household deities! I, the host, am: (names of grandparents, parents, children, grandchildren...) of the same family. Today is the day the Kitchen God of the East Kitchen returns to heaven to receive the Jade Emperor's order. We, the host, sincerely prepare incense, flowers, offerings, clothes, hats, and rituals, present them before the altar, offer them to the gods, burn incense, and sincerely pray. We respectfully invite: The Kitchen God of the East Kitchen to come before the altar to enjoy the offerings. We respectfully invite the local gods, the local land gods, the local tutelary gods, the five directions and five roads of the five directions and five lands of fortune and virtue, and all the local deities to sit together and enjoy the offerings. Following the old custom, the Dong Tru Tu Menh Tao Phu Than Quan is the master of the Five Temples. We humbly ask you to examine our hearts and bestow blessings. If our family has committed any mistakes or errors during the year, we humbly ask the gods to show us your grace and forgiveness (here the homeowner can confess the good and bad things of the family, admit their mistakes, repent, and promise to change). You return to heaven to pay homage to the Jade Emperor, and ask the Jade Emperor to bestow blessings and protect our entire family, sons and daughters, young and old, to be safe and healthy! We sincerely express our hearts. We humbly ask the gods to witness! We respectfully inform you, and enjoy!
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