Vu Lan / Ghost Festival Prayer (15th of the 7th month)
Văn khấn Vu Lan – Rằm tháng Bảy
Gia tiên & cúng chúng sinh
About this text
The Vu Lan (Ghost Festival) Prayer is a traditional text recited on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month to honor ancestors and pray for wandering spirits. It has two parts: the first for ancestors at the family altar, the second for hungry ghosts outdoors. Recite sincerely and respectfully.
Preparation & offerings
Prepare an indoor offering tray for ancestors with incense, flowers, fruit, and savory or sweet dishes. Outdoors, set up thin rice porridge, rice, salt, popcorn, and clean water for wandering spirits. Dress respectfully and maintain a solemn atmosphere.
Bracketed parts are for you to fill in (name, address, lunar date, wish). The mobile app fills them in automatically.
Text
- 1Phần 1 — Gia tiên
Homage to Amitabha Buddha! (3 times)
- 2
I bow to the nine directions of Heaven, the Buddhas of the ten directions, all Buddhas everywhere.
- 3
I respectfully bow to the local guardian deities, the Earth God, the Kitchen Gods, and all ancestors of the [your full name] family.
- 4
I, the devotee [your full name], residing at [your address],
- 5
Today is the 15th day of the 7th lunar month, the Vu Lan filial piety festival.
- 6
We sincerely prepare incense, flowers, and offerings to present before the altar.
- 7
We humbly ask our ancestors, grandparents, parents, and forebears to show compassion, descend and witness our sincerity.
- 8{{wish}}
Please bless and protect our whole family with health, peace, smooth affairs, and all wishes fulfilled.
- 9
We respectfully offer these humble gifts, sincerely asking for your acceptance.
- 10
Homage to Amitabha Buddha! (3 times)
- 11Phần 2 — Cúng chúng sinh / cô hồn
Homage to Amitabha Buddha! (3 times)
- 12
I bow to the nine directions of Heaven, the Buddhas of the ten directions, all Buddhas everywhere.
- 13
I respectfully bow to all wandering spirits, homeless souls, those who died unjustly, fallen soldiers, and unborn children.
- 14
I, the devotee [your full name], residing at [your address],
- 15
Today is the 15th day of the 7th lunar month, the Vu Lan filial piety festival.
- 16
We sincerely prepare thin rice porridge, rice, salt, popcorn, and clean water to offer to all spirits.
- 17
We humbly invite all spirits to receive these offerings, be satisfied, find peace, and soon reach a better realm.
- 18{{wish}}
If there is good affinity, please bless our household with peace and smooth affairs.
- 19
We bow in gratitude, dedicating any merit so that all beings may find happiness.
- 20
Homage to Amitabha Buddha! (3 times)
Source & license
Văn khấn cổ truyền Việt Nam (truyền thống dân gian), biên tập lại theo cấu trúc chuẩn bởi Vietnam Pagodas
License: Văn bản truyền thống công hữu · Bản biên tập: CC BY-SA 4.0 (Vietnam Pagodas)
Large print, saved reading position and auto-filled prayers in the Vietnam Pagodas app.