The 23rd day of the 12th lunar month is called Ong Cong Ong Tao Festival. This is the day when the Kitchen Gods (Mr. Cong, Mr. Tao) return to Heaven to report to the Jade Emperor the good and bad deeds of the family on earth during the past year.
Below are the prayers for the Kitchen Gods, excerpted from the book Traditional Vietnamese Prayers - Thanh Hoa Publishing House:
Prayer to the Kitchen Gods
Namo Amitabha Buddha!
Namo Amitabha Buddha!
Namo Amitabha Buddha!
I bow to the nine directions of Heaven, the ten directions of Buddhas, the Buddhas of the ten directions.
I respectfully bow to you, the God of the Kitchen, the God of the Kitchen.
We, the believers, are...
Located at:...
Today is the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month. We, the believers, sincerely prepare incense, flowers, offerings, shoes, clothes, and hats to respectfully offer to the God. Light a stick of incense and sincerely pay our respects. We respectfully invite the God of the Kitchen, Dong Tru Tu Menh Tao Phu, to appear before the altar and enjoy the offerings.
I bow to the Gods and ask them to forgive all the mistakes we have made in the past year. Please bless our whole family, men and women, young and old, with good health, prosperity, and all good things.
We respectfully offer our humble offerings and pray, hoping that the Gods will bless and protect us.
Namo Amitabha Buddha!
Namo Amitabha Buddha!
Namo Amitabha Buddha!
Prayer to Mr. Cong
The following prayer to Tho Cong is used all year round, depending on when the offering is made, the date and month can be changed accordingly.
Namo Amitabha Buddha!
Namo Amitabha Buddha!
Namo Amitabha Buddha!
- I bow to the nine directions of Heaven, the ten directions of Buddhas, the Buddhas of the ten directions.
- I respectfully bow to the Emperor of Heaven and the Earth, all the deities.
- I respectfully bow to you, the God of the Kitchen, the God of the Five Directions and Five Lands, and the God of Fortune and Virtue.
- I bow to the Gods who rule this land.
The believer is… Residing at… Today is the… day… month… year…
I, the believer, sincerely prepare incense, flowers, offerings, gold and silver, tea and fruit, and place them before the altar. Light a stick of incense and respectfully invite: the God of the East Kitchen, the God of the Kitchen, the God of the Earth and Dragon Veins, the God of the Five Directions and Five Soils, and the God of Fortune and Virtue.
We humbly ask you to have mercy on us, come down to this altar, witness our sincerity, accept our offerings, and bless us with peace and well-being, all good things, prosperity and family prosperity, and all our prayers and wishes come true.
We respectfully bow before the altar and ask for your protection and blessing.
Namo Amitabha Buddha!
Namo Amitabha Buddha!
Namo Amitabha Buddha!
Prayer to Tao Quan
Namo Amitabha Buddha
I respectfully bow to the Kitchen God of the East Kitchen.
We are:...
Located at:...
On the 23rd of December, we sincerely prepare incense, flowers, offerings, clothes, shoes, hats, and ritual offerings to present before the Altar, to offer to the Gods, burn incense, and wholeheartedly pray.
We respectfully invite: The God of the Kitchen, Dong Tru Tu Menh Tao Phu, to come before the altar to enjoy the offerings.
Following the old custom, He is the Lord, the Five-Character God, who examines the human heart, and the Kitchen God is a witness.
During the year of mistakes and sins, I humbly ask the Gods to forgive me, grant me blessings and protect my whole family, men and women, young and old, with peace and prosperity. With my sincere heart, I humbly ask you to witness.
I respectfully invite the Kitchen God of the Nine Heavens, the God of the Five Words.
From the rear, in the middle of the Big Dipper.
Kill good and evil, inside the Eastern Kitchen.
Four blessings to pardon sins, turn evil into good.
Calm the yin and yang, protect the family.
All disasters will be eliminated, all blessings will increase.
If you have a need, it will be met, if you are indifferent, there will be no communication.
Great compassion great vow. Great saint great mercy.
Nine Heavens Eastern Kitchen. The King of the Furnace.
The original emperor established the country. The seed of the heavenly canal.
As required by law.
