The work of cleaning the altar and trimming the incense sticks is done after the homeowner has completed the ritual of worshiping the Kitchen Gods.
Below are two prayers before cleaning the altar and trimming the incense sticks, as suggested by feng shui expert Nguyen Song Ha:
Prayer before removing incense sticks
Namo Amitabha Buddha, Namo Amitabha Buddha, Namo Amitabha Buddha.
The owner's name is... Living at the address...
Today, on the... day of the... month of the... year, I, the believer, consider that I have not been thorough enough, so the altar is a bit dirty, a bit not pure and solemn.
The believer respectfully informs the Deities (depending on whether the altar worships gods, guardians, or ancestors...), that today is an auspicious day and month, please allow the believer to purify the altar so that it is solemn and pure. We respectfully ask the Deities to witness and bless.
I hope you will temporarily hide and take refuge, and help me to clean up the place beautifully, to place the incense altar in its proper place, to place the underworld in peace, to keep the family's wealth stable, and to keep the fortune from being depleted.
We are mortals, full of sin, we only know how to respectfully and sincerely ask for forgiveness if we have made any mistakes.
Namo Amitabha Buddha, Namo Amitabha Buddha, Namo Amitabha Buddha.
Prayer for cleaning the altar
Namo Amitabha Buddha, Namo Amitabha Buddha, Namo Amitabha Buddha
The believer's name is... Living at the address...
Today, on the... day of the... month of the... year, I consider that I have not been careful enough to let the altar get dusty. I sincerely repent.
I, the believer, respectfully inform you (depending on what kind of altar it is, gods, guardians, or ancestors...), today we have chosen a good day and month, please allow me to purify the altar so that it is solemn and pure. I respectfully ask you to witness and bless.
We hope you will help us clean the altar properly, make it beautiful, put the altar in its proper place, put the deceased in peace, and put our family in a peaceful place.
We are mortals, full of sin, we only know how to respectfully and sincerely ask for forgiveness if we have made any mistakes.
Namo Amitabha Buddha, Namo Amitabha Buddha, Namo Amitabha Buddha.
