Is it okay to worship Ong Cong Ong Tao after 12 o'clock on December 23?

Many people believe that the worship of Ong Cong Ong Tao must be done before 12 o'clock on the 23rd of December. However, experts analyze the opposite.

As long as there is sincerity

The Kitchen Gods (also known as the Kitchen Gods) are the kitchen gods (also known as the Kitchen Gods) who look after the lives of the entire family. The Kitchen Gods include three deities who determine the fortunes of the family: a female Kitchen God and two male Kitchen Gods (including the Earth God of the Dragon Veins, the Five Directions and Five Lands of Fortune and Virtue, and the Eastern Kitchen God of Destiny).

According to folk beliefs, every year, on the 23rd of the 12th lunar month, the Kitchen Gods ride a carp to the sky to report everything that happens in the family to the Jade Emperor. And no one knows since when, but people believe that after 12 noon is the time when the Kitchen Gods return to the sky.

Therefore, the ceremony to worship the Kitchen God must be held before the Kitchen God flies to heaven to report to the Jade Emperor, that is, before 12 noon on December 23. Depending on the time and work conditions of each family, the Kitchen God can be worshiped at noon, evening on December 22 or morning on December 23.

However, Professor Nguyen Chi Ben - Member of the National Cultural Heritage Council, former Director of the Vietnam Institute of Culture and Arts, expressed a completely opposite opinion and said that the above folk concept is baseless and not in line with beliefs.

Professor, Dr. Nguyen Chi Ben - Member of the National Cultural Heritage Council, former Director of the Vietnam Institute of Culture and Arts

He said: "According to the cycle of time, when there are about 7 days left until the new year, which is December 23, is the best time for people to prepare a tray of offerings, invite the Kitchen Gods to eat that meal and then ride the carp to fly to heaven. In the morning, the homeowner will burn incense and ask for permission to clean the ancestral altar, and in the afternoon they will prepare the tray of offerings. The best time to make offerings is in the evening of December 23, the transition between day and night. When burning, it must also be at the time of entering darkness, the incense sticks, votive paper money, paper carp will be burned along with hats and clothes for the Kitchen Gods to ride the carp to fly to heaven".

In the spirit of cultural beliefs, Professor Nguyen Chi Ben said that, depending on conditions, each family can choose a different time to worship Ong Cong and Ong Tao, as long as they have a sincere heart.

How to release carp

Along with the concept of making offerings before 12 noon on the 23rd of December, releasing carp is also believed to be done before this time with the meaning "to give the Kitchen Gods enough time to go to heaven".

However, with the viewpoint of Professor Nguyen Chi Ben above, the time for releasing carp is no longer limited. Only, people should pay attention to the way of releasing to ensure both spiritual beauty and environmental hygiene.

When releasing carp, we must do it with a sincere heart, aiming for noble meanings. The most correct way to release is to use both hands, bring the fish close to the water surface before releasing it. If thrown from a high place, the carp will hardly survive, and if it survives, it will certainly become disabled.

In addition, this action is also contrary to Buddhist ethics. Besides, in recent years, there have been people who buy a large number of carp with the hope that the more they release, the more wealth and prosperity their family will enjoy. This is also just a spontaneous concept and no one has proven it.

In fact, the custom of releasing carp on Ong Cong Ong Tao Day also shows the compassion of Vietnamese people. From a biological perspective, this can be considered an act of breeding carp for them to multiply. Therefore, people should not put too much emphasis on personal gain.

Source: https://giadinhonline.vn/cung-ong-cong-ong-tao-sau-12-gio-ngay-23-thang-chap-duoc-khong-d204124.html