This year, Ong Cong Ong Tao festival falls on Wednesday, January 22, 2025 (solar calendar). Vietnamese families can worship Ong Cong Ong Tao from the 19th day of the 12th lunar month (January 18, 2025) to the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month (January 22, 2025).
Prayer to the Kitchen Gods
Refer to the prayer for the Kitchen Gods according to the book Traditional Vietnamese Prayers - Culture and Information Publishing House:
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 bow to you, 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: On this day, the Kitchen God of the Dong Tru family, 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 the Merciful Ones to come down before the altar, witness our sincerity, accept the offerings, bless us and our families with security and well-being, all good things, prosperity and family prosperity, all requests are answered, all wishes are fulfilled.
We respectfully bow before the altar and ask for your protection and blessing.
Namo Amitabha Buddha!
Namo Amitabha Buddha!
Namo Amitabha Buddha!
Suggested offerings to the Kitchen Gods
Offerings are prepared according to the conditions of each family and the local culture of the region. Although not elaborate, they must meet the criteria of cleanliness and tidiness. Note that the homeowner must use new items and avoid used items and leftovers.
Here is a suggested offering tray for the Kitchen Gods on the 23rd of December: 1 plate of rice; 1 plate of salt; 3 cups of wine; boiled pork; boiled or roasted chicken; plate of stir-fried vegetables; pickled onions; sticky rice with gac fruit; pork leg; mushroom soup or bamboo shoot soup; grilled carp (Southerners often offer grilled snakehead fish); fresh fruit, tea, wine, areca and betel; 1 stack of paper money and votive paper; 1 vase of chrysanthemums, 1 small vase of peach blossoms
After setting up the ceremony, burning incense and praying, wait for the incense to burn out, light another round of incense and burn the votive paper. After that, the family takes the carp to a pond, lake, river, stream... to release so that the fish can carry the Kitchen God to Heaven.
