According to Vietnamese folk beliefs, the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month every year is the occasion of the Ong Cong Ong Tao Tet. On this day, the Kitchen Gods - including Earth God and Kitchen God - leave the mortal world to go to Heaven, reporting to the Jade Emperor about all the good and bad things of each family throughout the past year.
The ceremony of worshiping Ong Cong and Ong Tao not only carries the meaning of sending off the gods to Heaven but also expresses the gratitude of children and grandchildren to the sacred beings who have protected and preserved the house throughout the year. This is also the time when families start cleaning up and repairing living space, preparing to welcome the Lunar New Year.
According to the book "Vietnamese Traditional Prayers" (Culture - Information Publishing House), on this holiday, many families burn votive paper with hats, shirts, and boots of the old year, then pour ashes into a clean place and perform the ritual of releasing carp to be used as a means for Ong Cong and Ong Tao to go to Heaven. In folk beliefs, carp after being released will transform into dragons, bringing the Kitchen Gods across the Vu Mon gate.
Depending on the customs of each region and the conditions of each family, the offering tray for worshiping Mr. Cong and Mr. Tao can be prepared in a vegetarian or savory form, but both send wishes for a new year of peace and prosperity.
Below are prayer texts for Ong Cong Ong Tao excerpted from the book Vietnamese Traditional Prayer - Thanh Hoa Publishing House:
Ong Cong Ong Tao prayer text
Nam mô a di Đà Phật!
Nam mô a di Đà Phật!
Nam mô a di Đà Phật!
I bow to the Nine Heavens, the Ten Directions of the Buddhas, the Buddhas of the Ten Directions.
I respectfully bow to Lord Dong Tru Tu Menh Tao Phu Than Quan.
Our believers are...
Located at:...
Today is the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, we believers sincerely prepare incense, flowers, offerings, sacks, robes, and hats, respectfully offering to the Gods. Lighting a stick of incense, we believers sincerely worship. We respectfully invite Mr. Dong Tru Tu Menh Tao Phu Than Quan to appear before the altar to receive the offerings.
I humbly ask the Lord God of the family to forgive our sins for all mistakes in the past year that our household has committed. I ask the Lord God to grant blessings and blessings, and bless our whole family, boys and girls, young and old, with abundant health, peace and prosperity, and all good things.
We offer sincere offerings, respectfully pray, and hope that the Supreme Deity will protect and protect us.
Nam mô a di Đà Phật!
Nam mô a di Đà Phật!
Nam mô a di Đà Phật!
Prayer to Mr. Cong
The following Earth God prayer text is used for the whole year, depending on when it is worshiped, changing the date to be appropriate.
Nam mô A Di Đà Phật!
Nam mô A Di Đà Phật!
Nam mô A Di Đà Phật!
- I bow to the Nine Heavens, the Ten Directions of the Buddhas, the Buddhas of the Ten Directions.
- Respectfully bow to Your Majesty the Emperor, Heaven, Earth, and all Honored Gods.
- I respectfully bow to Lord Dong Tru Tu Menh Tao Phu Than Quan, Ngu Phuong Ngu Tho, Phuc Duc Chinh Than.
- I respectfully bow to the Gods who govern this land.
Believer is... In... Today is day... month... year...
The believer sincerely prepares incense, flowers, offerings, honey, tea and fruit, and displays them in front of the altar. Burning a fragrant incense stick, respectfully inviting: Mr. Ban Gia Dong Tru Tu Menh Tao Phu Than Quan, Mr. Ban Gia Tho Dia Long Mach Ton Than, Mr. Ban Gia Ngu Phuong Ngu Tho, Phuc Duc Chinh Than.
I humbly ask you to pity the believers, come down before the altar, witness your sincerity, enjoy offerings, and bless us, believers, for the whole family to be safe and prosperous, for all things to be good, for the family to be prosperous, for everything to be fulfilled, for everything to be fulfilled.
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!
Nam mô A Di Đà Phật!
Nam mô A Di Đà Phật!
Prayer to the Kitchen Gods
Nammo Amitabha Buddha
Respectfully praying to Lord Dong Tru Tu Menh Tao Phu Than Quan.
We are:...
Located at:...
On the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, we sincerely prepare incense, flowers, items, sacks, shoes, robes, hats, and rituals to worship the mortal, offer them before the altar, dedicate them to the Gods, burn incense sticks, and wholeheartedly pray.
We respectfully invite: Lord Dong Tru Tu Menh Tao Phu Than Quan to descend before An, enjoy offerings.
According to the old custom, He is the Master, the Five Guardian Gods, Examining the mortal heart, and the Kitchen Gods are witnesses.
In the year of wrongdoing, sins and mistakes, I humbly ask the Gods to be merciful and forgiving, to bestow blessings and blessings, to protect the whole family, both men and women, young and old, to have peace and security. With sincere heart, I humbly ask to witness.
Praying for the nine heavens and the eastern mounts, the Kitchen Gods' destiny. The host of the first family, the god of the fifth family.
Từ hậu thiệt ư, Bắc Đẩu chi trung.
Killing good and evil, isn't it, Dong Tru?
Four blessings pardon sins, turn evil into goodness.
Peacefully guard yin and yang, protect family.
Misfortune will surely die, happiness will surely increase.
If you ask for help, you will meet, if you are indifferent, you will not understand.
Great sorrow, great prayer. Great saint, great mercy.
Cuu Thien Dong Tru. Ti Menh Lo Vuong.
Nguyên hoàng định quốc. Hột rạch thiên tôn.
Levels are like orders.
