The Mid-Autumn Festival (the 15th day of the 8th lunar month) is a time for families to prepare offerings, light incense, and remember their ancestors. This article summarizes the occasion. Prayer for the Full Moon of the Eighth Lunar Month – This includes prayers for ancestors, offerings for the outdoor area and the God of Wealth, as well as instructions on how to perform the ritual, the appropriate time for the ritual, and suitable offerings. Read this article now to prepare for a complete, solemn, and traditional Mid-Autumn Festival offering ceremony.
Prayer for the Mid-Autumn Festival (15th day of the 8th lunar month) to worship the Earth God and other deities.
On the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, in addition to preparing offerings for the ancestors, many families also perform rituals to offer incense to the Earth God and other deities who govern the household. When lighting incense, the homeowner can recite the following Mid-Autumn Festival prayer to express their sincerity and pray for family peace, smooth work, and overall good fortune.
Namo Amitabha Buddha! (3 times)
I bow to the nine directions of Heaven, the ten directions of the Buddhas, and all the Buddhas of the ten directions. I respectfully bow to the Heavenly Emperor, the Earth Goddess, and all the Venerable Deities.
I respectfully bow to the local tutelary deity and all the great kings. I respectfully bow to Lord Dong Than Quan.
I respectfully bow to the local Earth God and the Dragon Vein deity. I respectfully bow to the Five Directions, the Five Lands, and the Venerable Deities of Fortune and Virtue.
I respectfully bow before the former and latter landlords and the God of Wealth. I respectfully bow before all the revered deities who govern this area.
We, your humble devotees, are: …………………………………………….
Residing at: ………………………………………………………………
Today is the full moon of the eighth lunar month of the year Bính Ngọ (1946). We, your devout followers, sincerely prepare incense, flowers, offerings, gold and silver, tea and fruits, and light fragrant incense before the altar. We respectfully invite the Venerable Deity Kim Niên, the current presiding Thái Tuế, the Great Kings of the local Thành Hoàng, the God of the Kitchen and Hearth, the Household Earth God and Dragon Vein Deity, the Five Directions and Five Lands Deities, the God of Fortune and Virtue, and all other Venerable Deities governing this area.
We humbly beseech you, O deities, to hear our invitation, to have mercy on your devotees, to descend before the altar, to witness our sincerity, to accept our offerings, and to protect our entire family, granting us peace and prosperity in all our endeavors. May everyone be safe, wealth and fortune increase, spiritual understanding expand, and all our wishes be granted and our desires fulfilled.
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)

Prayer to the Ancestors on the Mid-Autumn Festival (15th day of the 8th lunar month)
Besides offering sacrifices to the Earth God and other deities, families can prepare offerings to commemorate their ancestors on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. Before lighting incense, the homeowner should keep the space clean, solemn, and sincerely recite the ancestral prayer for the Mid-Autumn Festival to offer their requests, express gratitude to their ancestors, and pray for peace and harmony for the family.
I respectfully bow before Heaven, Earth, and all the 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 both my paternal and maternal sides.
We, your humble devotees, are: …………………………………………….
Residing at: ………………………………………………………………
Today is the 15th day of the 8th lunar month of the year of the Fire Horse, coinciding with the Mid-Autumn Festival. We, your devout followers, sincerely prepare offerings of incense, flowers, tea, and fruit, and light incense sticks with heartfelt devotion before the altar.
We respectfully invite the local tutelary deity, the local earth god, the household kitchen god, the five directions, the dragon vein, and the god of wealth. We humbly request that you descend before the altar, witness our sincerity, and accept our offerings.
We respectfully invite our ancestors, both paternal and maternal, to have mercy on their descendants, to manifest themselves in sacred form, to witness our sincerity, and to partake of our offerings.
We, your humble devotees, respectfully invite the former and current owners residing in this house and on this land to come before the altar and partake in this offering. We pray that you grant us good health, peace of mind, protection from misfortune throughout the four seasons, and prosperity and glory during all eight festivals.
With humble hearts and sincere devotion, we respectfully bow before the altar and humbly ask for your protection and blessings.
Respectfully submitted!

Prayer to the God of Wealth on the Mid-Autumn Festival (15th day of the 8th lunar month)
If your family or business has an altar to the God of Wealth, on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, you can prepare offerings and light incense to pray for wealth, smooth work, and peace in the family. Below are some suggestions. Prayer to the God of Wealth on the Mid-Autumn Festival (15th day of the 8th lunar month)For the homeowner’s reference and reading during the ceremony.
Namo Amitabha Buddha! (3 times)
I bow down to the nine directions of Heaven, the ten directions of the Buddhas, and all the Buddhas of the ten directions.
We respectfully bow before the Heavenly Emperor, the Earth Goddess, and all the revered deities.
I respectfully bow before the Lord of the Eastern Kitchen, the God of the Stove.
I respectfully bow before the God of Wealth. I respectfully bow before all the deities and guardian spirits of this land.
The petitioner’s name is: ………………………………………………………….
Residing at: …………………………………………………………………
Today is the full moon of the eighth lunar month (Mid-Autumn Festival) of the year ……………………………….
We, your devout followers, sincerely prepare incense, flowers, offerings, gold and silver, tea, fruits, and other items to present before the altar, respectfully inviting the God of Wealth to take his place.
We humbly beseech the God of Wealth to have mercy on us, your devotees, to descend before this altar, witness our sincerity, accept our offerings, and protect us, your devotees, granting us peace, health, and prosperity in all things, a flourishing and prosperous family life, increasing wealth and fortune, spiritual enlightenment, and the fulfillment of all our requests and desires.
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)

Prayer for the Full Moon of the 8th Lunar Month in the yard
If the family performs the Mid-Autumn Festival ceremony outdoors, the homeowner can prepare incense, flowers, offerings, and recite prayers to pay respects to the deities and local spirits governing the area. The following outdoor Mid-Autumn Festival prayer helps to present the prayers fully, solemnly, and in accordance with traditional rituals.
Namo Amitabha Buddha! (3 times)
I bow before the nine directions of Heaven, the ten directions of the Buddhas, and all the Buddhas of the ten directions. I respectfully bow before the Heavenly Emperor, the Earth Goddess, and all the Venerable Deities.
I respectfully bow to Lord Dong Shen Jun. I respectfully bow to the local Earth God and Dragon Vein. I respectfully bow to the Five Directions, Five Lands, and the Venerable Deities of Fortune and Virtue.
I respectfully bow before the deities of wealth and property, both past and present. I respectfully bow before all the revered deities who govern this area.
We, your humble devotees, are: ……………………………………..
Residing at: …………………………………………………………..
Today is the full moon of the eighth lunar month (Mid-Autumn Festival). We, your humble devotees, sincerely prepare incense, flowers, offerings, gold, silver, tea, and fruit, and light fragrant incense before the altar. We respectfully invite: the Venerable Deity of the Current Year’s Tai Sui, the Great Kings of the Local City God, the God of the Kitchen and Hearth, the Local Earth God and Dragon Vein Deity, the Five Directions and Five Lands Deities, the God of Fortune and Virtue, and all the Venerable Deities governing this area.
We humbly beseech you, O deities, to hear our invitation, to have mercy on your devotees, to descend before the altar, to witness our sincerity, to accept our offerings, and to protect our entire family, granting us peace and prosperity in all our endeavors. May everyone be safe, wealth and fortune increase, spiritual understanding expand, and all our wishes be granted and our desires fulfilled.
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)

What offerings should be made on the Mid-Autumn Festival feast table in August?
There are no mandatory rules regarding the quantity or types of dishes for the Mid-Autumn Festival offering in August. Depending on family customs, region, and practical circumstances, the host can prepare a savory or vegetarian offering that is neat, clean, and shows sincerity. So, what should be offered during the Mid-Autumn Festival? A basic offering can include:
- Boiled chicken: Savory dishes are a common feature in traditional Vietnamese feasts.
- Sticky rice: You can choose sticky rice with gac fruit, sticky rice with beans, or any other type of sticky rice that suits your family.
- Vermicelli soup: A familiar dish on the ancestral altar.
- Fresh flowers: Choose fresh, clean flowers with elegant colors for the offering.
- Mooncakes: Typically consisting of baked and glutinous rice cakes, it reflects the distinctive atmosphere of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
- Fruit: Seasonal fruits such as pomelo, banana, persimmon, custard apple, and pomegranate can be chosen to both serve in the ceremony and add abundance to the feast.
Outside In addition to the above offerings, families can flexibly choose additional dishes according to the season and their taste. The Mid-Autumn Festival feast doesn’t need to be overly elaborate or have too many dishes; what’s important is that the food is clean, the presentation is neat, and the host is sincere in performing the ceremony.
After preparing all the necessary offerings, the homeowner can refer to the proper way to perform the Mid-Autumn Festival ritual and the appropriate prayers to conduct the ceremony at home in a solemn and traditional manner.

What is the best time to offer prayers and sacrifices during the Mid-Autumn Festival?
What time should the Mid-Autumn Festival ceremony be held? This is a question many families are concerned about when preparing for the festival. According to custom, the family can choose a time that suits their circumstances, preferably when everyone is present and the space is quiet and solemn. Some commonly chosen time slots for the ceremony include:
- Hour of the Rabbit (5 AM – 7 AM): The early morning is a peaceful time, suitable for the homeowner to perform rituals and pray for peace and well-being for the family.
- The Hour of the Dragon (7 AM – 9 AM): These are the commonly chosen times for offering prayers to deities, seeking wealth and good fortune in work.
- Snake Hour (9 AM – 11 AM): The ceremony can be performed in the morning, which is convenient for families who want to complete the ritual early.
- Hour of the Goat (13:00 – 15:00): The appropriate time to perform the ritual is in the early afternoon.
- Monkey Hour (3 PM – 5 PM): The homeowner can choose this time slot to complete the ritual before evening.
- Rooster Hour (5 PM – 7 PM): This is a popular time for many families because it’s convenient for members to gather, perform rituals, and then enjoy a feast together while admiring the moon.
Note: It’s not necessary to perform the ritual at a fixed time. Families should prioritize performing the ceremony on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, at a time that suits their family’s schedule, and maintain sincerity and solemnity throughout the entire process.

The meaning of offering sacrifices on the Mid-Autumn Festival.
The full moon of the eighth lunar month is associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon-Viewing Festival. According to folk customs, this is also an occasion for descendants to prepare incense, flowers, cakes, and offerings to present to deities and ancestors, expressing their reverence and gratitude to the higher powers who have blessed and protected the family.
Besides its spiritual significance, the Mid-Autumn Festival also holds many symbolic values. Many families believe that this is the time when the moon is full and bright, making it an ideal time to express wishes for family peace, health, good fortune, and a harmonious life.
Beyond just rituals, the Mid-Autumn Festival is also an occasion for family members to gather together. After the offerings are made, everyone enjoys the feast, savors mooncakes, gazes at the moon, and chats, thereby strengthening bonds and creating a warm, cozy atmosphere of reunion.
Therefore, the Mid-Autumn Festival offering doesn’t necessarily require an overly elaborate tray of offerings. What’s important is the neatness, solemnity, and sincerity of the homeowner when performing the ritual.

Summary
Hopefully, the prayers for the Mid-Autumn Festival (15th day of the 8th lunar month) and the instructions for preparing the offerings in this article will help your family perform the ritual at home fully, solemnly, and according to tradition. You can save this article for reference when preparing the offering tray, lighting incense, and reciting prayers on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month.
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