Full moon in July: How to prepare the offerings properly?

Every full moon day of the 7th lunar month, people often set up offerings to Buddha, their ancestors and the souls that have not been liberated.

Offerings on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month can be made at the temple or at home, including offerings to Buddha, gods and ancestors, and offerings to wandering souls. Below is a summary of how to prepare offerings to Buddha, ancestors, and wandering souls, along with important notes on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month.

Buddhist offerings

For Buddhist families, the full moon of the seventh lunar month is a big holiday. According to Buddhist teachings, the important thing in the offering is not the high and full tray of food, but the sincerity of each person. Therefore, on Vu Lan festival, you only need to prepare a vegetarian meal or simply a tray of five fruits to offer to Buddha and then enjoy the blessing at home.

Vegetarian offerings for the 15th day of the 7th lunar month

When performing the ceremony, you should recite a Vu Lan Sutra to dedicate merit to the deceased relatives to be reborn and also as a way to help understand more about this holiday. Another thing that needs special attention is that according to the long-standing concept, the Buddha offering tray should be made during the day.

Worshiping gods and ancestors

The ancestral offering tray is usually a savory dish, accompanied by votive paper money and symbolic items for the underworld, from traditional items (like real ones) such as clothes, shoes, to modern items such as vehicles, telephones... so that the underworld can have a comfortable, fulfilling life like the living.

Savory offerings for the 15th day of the 7th lunar month

Offering tray for wandering souls

According to folk beliefs, the 15th day of the 7th lunar month is also known as the "Day of Pardon for the Dead", which is the day when the King of Hell opens the gates of hell for the souls who were unlucky in life, had no place to rely on, and suffered many injustices in their previous lives...

These souls are pitiful because no one worships them, or they die on the streets and wander aimlessly, unable to find their way back to their ancestors. Therefore, people often prepare offerings for these souls so they do not disturb the living world.

Offering tray for wandering souls on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month

In contrast to the offerings to Buddha and ancestors, the ceremony to worship the wandering souls is held in the evening of July 14 or 15. Because, people believe, this is the time when the souls are on their way back to hell, so it is also the most appropriate time to worship the wandering souls. All offerings must be completed on July 15.

The offering tray for wandering souls should only be prepared with vegetarian dishes so that the wandering souls do not develop greed. A typical offering tray for wandering souls includes: the clothes of the living beings are taken apart and scattered on the tray, a little votive paper money is also done the same way, a few bowls of thin white porridge, a cup of rice mixed with salt (this cup will be sprinkled on the sidewalk or yard in all four directions after the offering is finished), a little rice popcorn and candies of all kinds, corn, potatoes, cassava boiled and cut into small pieces, etc. The offering to the living beings should be made outdoors, or in front of the main door of the house.

On the offering tray to all living beings, offerings include:

Salt and rice (1 plate will be sprinkled on the sidewalk or yard in all four directions after the offering is finished) Thin white porridge (12 small bowls) Fruits (5 types, 5 colors) 12 sugar cubes Sentient beings' clothes in many colors (blue, green, yellow, pink...) Various types of popcorn, cakes, candies Gold money (real money of all denominations and votive paper money) Water: 3 cups (or 3 small cups), 3 incense sticks, 2 small candles.....

Thin porridge is an indispensable dish in the ghost worship ceremony, because it is believed that this dish is for the tormented souls who have a narrow esophagus and cannot swallow normal food.

Offerings are set up and made outside or in front of the main door of the house. The homeowner can read the prayers or pray in Vietnamese according to his wishes and spread his compassion to the wandering souls, hoping that their souls will be freed from the suffering of the world. At the end of the wandering souls ceremony, rice and salt are scattered in the yard and road, followed by burning votive paper./.

Some things to note in the full moon ceremony of July

- Altar for Buddha, gods and ancestors made in the house.

- The offering tray for wandering souls must be placed outdoors, away from windowsills. It is best to make offerings at a temple.

- The Buddhist offering tray must be placed in the highest position on the altar, followed by the offering tray for the gods and finally the offering tray for the ancestors.

- Because on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month there will be many wandering souls, so offerings such as paper clothes and gold for ancestors must clearly state the recipient's name.

- When making offerings, you should first read the prayer to the gods and the local spirits, then read aloud and clearly the name of the recipient's soul.

According to VOV