Prayer to welcome Tao Quan home on the night of the 30th of Tet (or 29th of Tet)
The complete ceremony to worship the Kitchen Gods includes two ceremonies: one is to send the Kitchen Gods off to heaven, and the other is to welcome them home. Families will hold a ceremony to welcome the Kitchen Gods home on the 30th of December. In lunar years without the 30th, the ceremony to welcome the Kitchen Gods home will be held on the 29th of December.
Ceremony to welcome the Kitchen Gods home
Normally, families will hold a ceremony to welcome the Kitchen Gods home on the 30th of December. In lunar years without the 30th, the ceremony will be held on the 29th of December.
The time to hold the ceremony to invite the Kitchen Gods home starts from around 11pm to 11:45pm on New Year's Eve. The offerings are prepared the same as when sending the Kitchen Gods to heaven.
However, there is also a notion that the exact date of the welcome is not set because the early or late return of the Kitchen Gods depends on the specific work schedule of each year in Heaven. Only when the Jade Emperor declares the closing of the "Thien Tao judge" conference can the two Gods return.
Offerings to welcome Tao Quan home
Offerings to welcome the Kitchen Gods home should be prepared the same as when sending them to heaven.
Usually includes the following basics: incense, fresh flowers, fresh fruit, lamps (candles), betel and areca nuts, medicinal wine, sticky rice dish, pork roll, banh chung, candy. If more elaborate, there can be boiled chicken, stir-fried dish, bamboo shoot/vermicelli soup bowl depending on the homeowner's conditions.
Prayer to welcome Tao Quan home on the night of the 30th of Tet (or 29th of Tet)
Namo Amitabha Buddha
Namo Amitabha Buddha
Namo Amitabha Buddha
I bow to the nine directions, the ten directions of Buddhas, the ten directions of Buddhas.
I respectfully bow to the Future Buddha Maitreya.
I respectfully bow to Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara who saves all living beings from suffering.
I respectfully bow to the Emperor of Heaven, the Mother of Earth, and all the deities.
I respectfully bow to the former Governor of Lu, the Governor of the Five Mountains.
I respectfully bow to the current Heavenly Official: Cu Tao Phan Quan.
I respectfully bow to the Five Directions, Five Tigers, Dragon Veins, Kitchen Gods, and all deities.
Today is New Year's Eve of the year..., we are..., born in..., living at...
The sacred moment of New Year's Eve has just arrived, the old year has passed, the new year is welcomed, the three yangs open up, all things are renewed. Now the great god Thai Tue above obeys the order of the Emperor to supervise all people below to protect all living beings and eliminate evil spirits. The old mandarin returns to the court to leave behind blessings and grace. The new mandarin takes his place, showing his virtue of loving life, bestowing wealth and prosperity.
On the occasion of the New Year, we, the believers, sincerely prepare incense, flowers, offerings, and rituals, and present them before the altar. We offer them to the Buddha, the Saints, and the Gods, and burn incense sticks and sincerely pray.
We respectfully invite: The current ruler of the year, the current ruler of the year, the Supreme God of the year, the local Thanh Hoang and the Great Kings, the local God of the land, the God of happiness and virtue, the Five directions, the Five lands, the Dragon Vein God of Wealth, the local Tao Quan and all the gods who govern this land, to come down before the altar to enjoy the offerings.
Wishing the believer: May this year be prosperous and the night be filled with good fortune. May you always be safe and your family prosper.
We respectfully present this offering and sincerely pray. We bow and ask the nine directions of heaven, the ten directions of Buddhas and deities to witness, bless and protect us.
Namo Amitabha Buddha!
Namo Amitabha Buddha!
Namo Amitabha Buddha!