Standard prayer for the 3rd day of Tet 2026

The Vietnamese Buddhist portal suggests a standard prayer for the third day of the Lunar New Year (the end of the Tet holiday).

Offering tray for the third day of Tet - Illustration: Vietnam Buddhist Information Portal

Offering tray for the ceremony:

The Buddhist altar includes: incense, flowers, fruit, candles, sandalwood (if available), and pure vegetarian food (rice, sticky rice, sweet soup, cakes, jams... no stir-fried, stewed, or fried food).

The ancestral altar (for ancestors and grandparents) faces the Buddha altar and displays offerings such as incense, flowers, candles; betel nuts, tea, drinks, sweets, and fruits; and a New Year's feast: vegetarian food should be offered (depending on the preparation of each family).

Besides the altars for Buddha and ancestors, the homeowner may also prepare a separate, elaborate, yet simple feast at home (preferably vegetarian food) depending on their circumstances.

The offering tray includes: incense burners, flowers, fruit, candles, and food.

After arranging the offerings, light candles (lamps), and incense sticks on the Buddha altar, the ancestral altar, and the separate offering tray (if any), then respectfully clasp your hands and pray.

Namo Buddha Shakyamuni

Namo Maitreya Buddha, the Buddha of the Future.

Namo Great Compassionate Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva

Namo Dharma Protectors and Bodhisattvas

At noon on the 3rd day of the Lunar New Year in 2026, we, your humble devotees…

Residing at:…

We sincerely offer incense, flowers, and offerings. We respectfully invite the Buddhas of the ten directions, the great Bodhisattvas, the virtuous and holy monks, the benevolent guardian deities, and the local guardian spirits of this land to come and witness our offerings.

We also respectfully invite our ancestors, our great-grandparents, our paternal and maternal spirits, and all our relatives to descend and witness and partake of the offerings.

The spring festival has ended / The thanksgiving ceremony is presented / We bid farewell to the ancestral spirits / Returning to the underworld / At the beginning of the new year / The whole family awaits / May blessings and graces remain / May the Three Jewels above / Protect and safeguard / May the earthly and spiritual realms / May all be auspicious / May descendants be safe and secure / May prosperity and well-being prevail.

We humbly pray to the Three Jewels of the ten directions, the dragon gods and guardian spirits, the local deities, and all ancestral spirits, both internal and external, to mercifully bless our family with peace and stability in the new year; that our minds may be free from worries, our bodies free from illness, and that we may always be healthy, joyful in our daily work according to the wondrous teachings of the Buddha, so that our fortunes may be prosperous, our health and longevity abundant, good deeds flourish, and bad karma dissipates, free from worries and troubles throughout the four seasons, and that we may always be imbued with the grace of the Buddha's teachings for generations to come.

Just as trees have roots and water has a source, so too do people have ancestors, grandparents, and parents. It is our duty as descendants to repay the boundless debt of gratitude for their upbringing and nurturing, a debt as vast as the sky and the ocean.

A tree needs roots to spread its branches and grow leaves; water needs a source to flow through rivers and streams; people have ancestors and lineage; do not forget your origins, so that your efforts in cultivating yourself will not be in vain.

A ceremonial offering tray in a family in the Southwestern region of Vietnam - Photo: HOAI PHUONG

We humbly pray that our children and grandchildren may always be healthy, intelligent, excel in their studies, write well, pass examinations successfully, be obedient and filial; respect their elders and be considerate of their juniors, practice the Buddha's teachings, deeply believe in karma, understand reincarnation, seek the state of non-self, have increased blessings and longevity, firmly vow to take refuge in the Three Jewels, follow the stream of enlightenment, be free from calamities, and have pure body and mind.

Dang prays for salvation for his elders, parents, siblings, relatives, and all sentient beings, that they may all attain Buddhahood.

We humbly beseech the Buddhas of the ten directions, the great Bodhisattvas, and the virtuous and holy Sangha to bear witness to our sincerity.

I humbly pray to the Triple Gem to bestow the blessings of Buddha's power upon the deceased, my ancestors, and my parents from countless lifetimes, that they may encounter the radiant light of the Buddhas and holy monks, awaken their minds, be free from suffering and ignorance, cultivate compassion, shun evil paths, take refuge in the Triple Gem, and be reborn in a peaceful and joyful realm for eternity. Furthermore, I pray that the world , victims of war, and wandering souls may all find refuge in the light of compassion and attain liberation.

Throughout, we pray for national peace and prosperity, favorable weather, the deceased attaining liberation, the living enjoying happiness, all beings being nourished by the Dharma, people loving one another, and everyone attaining Buddhahood.

Namo Buddha Shakyamuni .

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HOAI PHUONG - VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST INFORMATION PORTAL

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/van-khan-cung-mung-3-tet-2026-chuan-20260219001209495.htm