To make rituals a beautiful cultural tradition.

In the first month of the lunar year, when the breath of spring still lingers on the green leaves, temples and shrines in many localities across the country are bustling with people. Besides worship and sightseeing, a "ritual" that has become a tradition for many families is offering prayers to ward off bad luck. For generations, the mentality of "respecting the gods brings blessings, observing taboos brings good fortune" has been deeply ingrained in the Vietnamese psyche. However, the line between positive spiritual practices and abuse is becoming increasingly blurred.

The procession of the palanquin at the opening ceremony of the Duom Temple festival in the spring of the Year of the Horse (2016). Photo: Archival.

According to folk beliefs, each year a person is influenced by a specific star. Within the system of stars, there are auspicious stars like the Sun and Moon that bring good fortune; but there are also inauspicious stars like Rahu, Ketu, and Venus that cause people to fear misfortune, illness, or financial loss.

To alleviate this anxiety, many people are willing to spend from several hundred thousand to tens of millions of dong to register for the star-offering ceremony. In some temples and shrines, the registration list stretches for pages, and the crowds are so large that people spill out onto the road and sidewalk, facing the shrine with the belief that: As long as their name is on the list and they pay the full offering fee, their misfortune will be averted.

We cannot deny the value of faith and belief. In a world full of uncertainty and risk, performing a spiritual ritual helps people feel more at ease and provides them with mental strength to face difficulties; this is a legitimate psychological need.

However, reality is revealing many worrying distortions of this ritual: Many places are offering packages to ward off bad luck with fixed fees, turning a voluntary ritual into a price-based service. Excessive fear of bad omens causes many people to become anxious, affecting their work and real lives.

From a progressive cultural and religious perspective, the Vietnam Buddhist Church has repeatedly affirmed that Buddhist teachings do not include rituals for warding off bad luck; instead, they focus on prayers for peace, national prosperity, and guiding people towards self-cultivation. The Buddha resides in the heart, not in rituals. If we live virtuously, do good deeds, and maintain a pure heart, that is the best way to ward off bad luck.

Life has its ups and downs, like a sine wave; difficulties are lessons for growth, not just obstacles to avoid. Instead of spending money on extravagant rituals, use that time to study, improve your health, and understand yourself.

Offering prayers to ward off bad luck isn't bad if it's just a spiritual ritual to stabilize one's mindset at the beginning of the new year. But don't let it become a financial burden. Peace isn't something that can be bought with offerings; it's built from the effort, wisdom, and kind heart of each individual.

In the year of the Fire Horse 2026, instead of tirelessly searching for stars in the sky to avert misfortune, let's light up the "star" of compassion and mindfulness within our own hearts, because "a peaceful mind brings peace in all things."

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/202602/de-nghi-le-la-net-van-hoa-dep-1e97f37/