Today is Sunday, May 17 (April 1st of the lunar calendar).
According to folk beliefs, the first day of the month is a new beginning, affecting the whole month. Therefore, offering incense and reading prayers helps homeowners send good wishes.
Below is the prayer text for the 1st day of each month according to the book Vietnamese Traditional Prayer - Culture and Information Publishing House as follows:
Nam mô A Di Đà Phật! (3 times)
I bow to the Nine Heavens, the Ten Directions of Buddhas, the Buddhas of the Ten Directions.
I respectfully bow to the Emperor, the Later Earth, and all the Supreme Gods.
I respectfully bow to Lord Ban Canh Thanh Hoang, Lord Ban Xu Tho Dia, Lord Ban Gia Tao Quan and all the venerable gods.
I respectfully bow to ancestors, Hien khao, Hien ty, all kinds of spirits (if father and mother are still alive, replace them with To khao, To ty)
The homeowner (us) children's name is:... living at:
Today is the 1st day of the 1st month... of the Binh Ngo year, my faithful, thanks to the merits of heaven and earth, the venerable gods, and the ancestors, sincerely prepare offerings, incense, flowers, tea, and fruits, and light incense sticks to offer before the altar.
We respectfully invite: Mr. Ban Canh Thanh Hoang, all great kings, Mr. Ban Xu Than Linh Tho Dia, Mr. Ban Gia Tao Quan, Ngu Phuong, Long Mac, Tai Than. Please descend before the altar, witness the sincerity and enjoy the offerings.
We respectfully invite the patriarchs, patriarchs, ancestral spirits of both paternal and maternal families... , bow in gratitude to pity the sacred descendants appearing, witness sincerely, and enjoy offerings.
Believers, I respectfully invite the Precedents and Later Masters living in this house, to share the past and future, to bless our family to always be healthy, all peace, all good things, prosperous business, and harmonious family.
We offer a sincere and humble offering, before the altar, respectfully offering, and bow to ask for blessings and protection.
Nam mô A Di Đà Phật! (3 times).
