The 10th lunar month's full moon, also known as the New Rice Festival (Tết Thường Tân) or the Lower Prime Festival (Tết Hạ Nguyên), is one of the most significant holidays in Vietnamese spiritual culture. It is an occasion for descendants to express their reverence and gratitude to Heaven, Earth, Deities, and ancestors for a bountiful harvest. As the year of At Ty 2025 approaches, preparing a proper and respectful prayer is a matter of concern for every family. This article will provide the most detailed guide on the votive prayer for the 10th lunar month full moon of At Ty 2025 to bring peace, luck, and prosperity to your family.

The Sacred Meaning of the 10th Lunar Month Full Moon

The 10th full moon is not just a day when the moon is full. According to folk and Buddhist beliefs, this day carries many profound meanings:

• New Rice Festival (Tết Thường Tân): This marks the end of a harvest season, where farmers reap the fruits of their labor. The offering tray for the 10th full moon often includes products from the new harvest, such as sticky rice and green rice flakes, to offer to ancestors and Deities as thanks for favorable weather and a prosperous crop.
• Lower Prime Festival (Tết Hạ Nguyên): In Buddhism, this is an important festival, an occasion for Buddhists to visit temples, repent, pray for national peace and prosperity, and offer salvation for the souls of the deceased. It is also the day when celestial deities descend to the mortal world to observe human deeds to report to the Jade Emperor.
• A Time for Family Reunion: Like other holidays, the 10th full moon is an opportunity for family members to gather around a warm meal, remember their roots, and share stories of life.

Guide to Preparing Offerings for the 10th Full Moon of At Ty 2025

The offering tray for the 10th full moon does not need to be overly elaborate or extravagant; the most important thing is the sincerity of the host. Depending on economic conditions and regional customs, you can prepare the offering tray as follows:

1. Ancestor Altar Offerings:

• Incense, fresh flowers (yellow chrysanthemums, lilies).
• A five-fruit tray (choose fresh, seasonal fruits).
• Betel leaves and areca nuts, wine, tea, clean water.
• Gac sticky rice or mung bean sticky rice.
• A whole boiled rooster or a piece of boiled pork.
• Other savory dishes as desired: bamboo shoot soup, fried spring rolls, pork sausage... Especially, there should be dishes made from new rice like sticky rice cakes or stir-fried green rice flakes.
• Votive paper, clothing for spirits.

2. Buddha Altar Offerings (if any):

If the family has a Buddha altar, a separate vegetarian tray should be prepared, including:

• Incense, fresh flowers.
• A five-fruit tray.
• Sticky rice with sweet soup, bean dishes, stir-fried vegetables, mushroom soup.
• Absolutely no savory food, wine, or beer on the Buddha altar.

The Most Authentic and Sacred Votive Prayer for the 10th Full Moon of At Ty 2025

After preparing the offerings, the host should bathe, dress neatly, light the incense, and recite the prayer with a sincere heart. Below are two prayer templates for worshiping Deities - Land Genie and ancestors.

Prayer 1: Votive Prayer for Deities and the Land Genie

Namo Amitabha Buddha! (3 times)

I bow to the nine directions of the Sky, the ten directions of the Buddhas, the Buddhas of the ten directions.

I respectfully bow to the August Heaven, the Profound Earth, and all the venerable Deities.

I respectfully bow to the local Tutelary God, the Land Genie, the Kitchen God, and all venerable Deities.

I respectfully bow to my Great-Great-Grandparents, paternal and maternal ancestors, uncles, aunts, siblings.

I, the devotee(s), am/are: ........................................ Residing at: .....................................................

Today is the 15th day of the 10th month of the year At Ty 2025, on the occasion of the Lower Prime festival, I sincerely prepare offerings, flowers, tea, and fruits, light this incense, and present them before your altar.

We respectfully invite: the local Tutelary God, the Great Kings, the Land Genie, the Kitchen God, the Deities of the Five Directions, the Dragon Vein, and the God of Wealth. We humbly ask you to descend upon this altar, witness our sincere hearts, and accept these offerings.

We also respectfully invite the former and current spirits residing in this house, on this land, to come before the altar and partake in the offerings.

We humbly ask for your blessing and protection for us, the devotees, and our entire family, for all things to be peaceful, for abundant health, for the family to prosper, for all endeavors to be smooth, for our wishes to be granted, and our prayers to be fulfilled.

Our offerings are modest, but our hearts are sincere. We respectfully bow before your altar and pray for your protection.

Namo Amitabha Buddha! (3 times)

Prayer 2: Votive Prayer for Ancestors

Namo Amitabha Buddha! (3 times)

I bow to the nine directions of the Sky, the ten directions of the Buddhas, the Buddhas of the ten directions.

I respectfully bow to the August Heaven, the Profound Earth, and all the venerable Deities.

I respectfully bow to my paternal and maternal Ancestors and all ancestral spirits.

I, the devotee(s), am/are: ........................................ Residing at: .....................................................

Today is the 15th day of the 10th month of the year At Ty 2025. On this full moon day, the Lower Prime festival, remembering the grace of our ancestors, we, with our entire family, have prepared offerings, flowers, and a feast, and sincerely present them before your altar.

We sincerely invite our Great-Great-Grandparents, all ancestral spirits, and the spirits of the ............ (family name) lineage, both paternal and maternal, to have mercy on your descendants, descend upon this altar, witness our sincere hearts, and accept these offerings.

We pray for our ancestral spirits to protect our family, granting us peace, good health, smooth endeavors, prosperous businesses, and for our children to excel in their studies, and for a harmonious family life.

The devotee also invites the former and current spirits residing in this house, on this land, to come and partake, and bless our family with all good things.

Our offerings are modest, but our hearts are sincere. We respectfully bow before your altar and pray for your protection.

Namo Amitabha Buddha! (3 times)

Important Notes for Conducting the Ceremony

• Timing: The host should conduct the ceremony in the early morning or at noon on the 15th of the 10th lunar month. If not possible, it can be done on the evening of the 14th.
• Sincerity: This is the most crucial element. A lavish feast is meaningless without a sincere heart. Conversely, simple offerings from a sincere host will be recognized.
• Cleaning the Altar: Before the ceremony, the altar must be cleaned and tidy, showing solemnity and respect.
• Attire: The person performing the ritual should wear clean, formal clothes, avoiding shorts or revealing outfits.
• Burning Votive Paper: After one incense stick has completely burned, the host should clasp their hands and bow three times to ask for permission to conclude the ceremony and burn the votive paper. The burning area must be clean, and paper for the Deities should be burned before that for the ancestors.

Performing the 10th lunar month full moon ceremony of At Ty 2025 with solemnity and sincerity is not only a way to preserve beautiful cultural traditions but also a way for us to find peace in our souls and pray for good things for our families. Wishing you a peaceful, warm, and fulfilling 10th month full moon!