The full moon of the tenth lunar month, the full moon of the Lower Nguyên festival, the New Rice Festival.

Each year there are three major full moon days: the full moon of the first lunar month, also known as the Upper Nguyên Festival; the full moon of the seventh lunar month, also known as the Middle Nguyên Festival; and the full moon of the tenth lunar month, also known as the Lower Nguyên Festival or the New Rice Festival.

- The full moon of the first lunar month is the day when Emperor Yao bestows blessings upon humanity, so it is also known as "Shangyuan Four Blessings Heavenly Emperor's Victorious Gathering" or "Shangyuan Heavenly Emperor's Sacred Birthday" or simply: "Heavenly Official's Four Blessings".

- The 15th day of the seventh lunar month is the day when Emperor Shun pardoned the souls in the Underworld, so it is also called "Central Plains Underworld Official's Day of Atonement" or "Central Plains Underworld Official's Birthday", "Vu Lan Festival".

- The 15th day of the 10th lunar month is the day when King Yu of Xia resolved calamities for mankind, so it is also called "Xia Yuan Jie Ach Shui Guan Da Di Sheng Hui" or "Xia Yuan Shui Guan Sheng Dan", "New Rice Festival"...

There is a folk saying:

On the full moon of the first lunar month, those who have money can throw a party.

On the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, some carry baskets of food, others leave empty-handed.

On the 15th day of the 10th lunar month, ten people carry ten baskets.

Therefore, of the three full moon days, the full moon of the tenth lunar month is the day when everyone makes offerings and sacrifices. Why is that?

Because the full moon of the tenth lunar month, also known as the New Rice Festival or New Rice Festival, is the most important festival in the system of traditional festivals of the Vietnamese people in the highlands. The New Rice Festival is as important to ethnic minorities as Tet (Lunar New Year) is to the Kinh people.

Celebrating the New Rice Festival of the Central Highlands people.

After the August rice harvest is complete, the year's farming work begins to ease and relax. The granaries are full of rice, and the straw is neatly piled up in dry mounds. Despite the cold winter weather, the bountiful harvest and new rice immediately bring to mind the blessings of heaven and earth, for the favorable weather and the absence of floods that damaged the crops. Therefore, on the 15th day of the 10th lunar month, people prepare food according to ancient local customs, such as sticky rice, sweet soup, small cakes, ceremonial cakes, tapioca cakes, and rice cakes, along with a feast to offer to their ancestors, grandparents, the earth god, and spirits.

The fifteenth day of the tenth lunar month is considered a day of thanksgiving. This thanksgiving ceremony is one of the four great acts of gratitude in Buddhism, as taught by the Buddha during his lifetime. After the thanksgiving ceremony, the whole family gathers around the warm fire in the cold winter for a hearth meal, a warm and cozy reunion. On the fifteenth day of the tenth lunar month, everyone has harvested their food from the eighth lunar month, so every household holds a thanksgiving ceremony, hence the folk saying: "On the fifteenth day of the tenth lunar month, ten people carry ten baskets."

Regarding King Yu of Xia, he was a legendary ancient king famous for his flood control, establishing a hereditary system by founding the Xia Dynasty, and his upright moral character. His birth name was Ziwen Ming, often called Da Yu. Very few historical records document his reign. Because of this, most information about his life and reign comes from oral traditions, which originate from various regions. After his death, King Yu was honored with the title "Da." Taoism venerates him as the Great Water God, and his birthday is celebrated on the Xia Yuan Festival.

Today, the full moon of the tenth lunar month, also known as the Hạ Nguyên festival, has become a holiday with significant spiritual value for the Vietnamese people. Especially for Buddhists, the full moon of the tenth lunar month is an opportunity for all followers of Buddhism to focus their minds on spiritual practice, seeking the blessings of the Buddhas of the ten directions and the protection of their ancestors. But most importantly, each person must know how to connect with family traditions in the sense of gratitude and repaying kindness.

In his article on the spiritual value of the Full Moon Festival in the tenth lunar month, Venerable Thich Phuoc Dat taught the following prayer to ancestors on the Full Moon Festival in the tenth lunar month:

" Namo Amitabha Buddha!" ​​(3 times)

I respectfully bow to the nine directions of heaven and the ten directions of Buddha.

I respectfully bow before the Heavenly Emperor, the Earth Goddess, and all revered deities.

I respectfully bow before the local tutelary deity, the local earth deity, the household kitchen god, and all other revered deities.

I respectfully bow before my great-great-grandfathers, great-great-grandmothers, uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters, and all relatives from my paternal and maternal sides.

We, your humble devotees, are… residing at…

Today is the full moon of the tenth lunar month, the New Rice Festival. We sincerely prepare offerings: betel nuts and leaves, incense, flowers, tea, and fruits; we cook rice from the new harvest; and we humbly think:

The merits of those who created them in the past.

This precious treasure is now enjoyed by our descendants.

By the grace of Heaven, Earth, Buddha, Immortals, and all the Venerable Deities

Thanks to the efforts and sacrifices of our ancestors, we can now attest to their immense contributions.

To this day, their descendants are numerous and enjoy the precious oranges.

Now, during the harvest season, carrying the first harvest of sticky rice, I remember the kindness of the past.

We respectfully invite the local tutelary deity, the Great Kings, the local earth god, the household kitchen god, the Five Directions deities, the Dragon Vein deity, and the God of Wealth. We humbly request that you descend before the altar to witness our sincerity and accept our offerings.

We respectfully invite our ancestors, both paternal and maternal, and all the departed spirits of our family lineage, to have mercy on their descendants, to manifest in their sacred presence to witness our sincerity, and to accept our offerings. With humble hearts and sincere devotion, we respectfully bow before the altar, and humbly ask for your protection and blessings.

Namo Amitabha Buddha (3 times).

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/ram-thang-muoi-ram-ha-nguyen-tet-lua-moi.html