Khai Hạ Prayer (7th Day of the 1st Month)
The 7th day of the 1st lunar month — Khai Hạ (taking down the cây nêu)
Meaning
The Khai Hạ rite (also called the cây nêu lowering) takes place on the 7th of the 1st lunar month, marking the end of Tết Nguyên Đán. The head of household conducts the offering to give thanks to the deities for their protection during Tết and to invoke peace and favor for the new year's work.
Offering preparation
Offering tray: fruit, incense, candles, betel and areca, wine. If a cây nêu was raised, perform the lowering rite. Votive paper depending on the family.
Content
Namo Amitābha Buddha! (3 times)
Today is the 7th of the 1st lunar month, year .......... — the Khai Hạ rite.
The faithful: ..........................................
Residing at: ..........................................
On this Khai Hạ occasion, we sincerely present offerings of incense and flowers.
We respectfully bow to August Heaven and Sovereign Earth and all the venerable deities.
We respectfully bow to the local Tutelary Deity, the Kitchen Gods, and the Earth Deity.
We respectfully bow to the spirits of the lineage on both paternal and maternal sides.
We respectfully report: The days of Tết have passed; we now humbly thank the venerable ones for the shelter and protection given throughout Tết Nguyên Đán.
We humbly ask the venerable ones to continue blessing our family throughout the year .......... with peace and favorable work.
We offer modest gifts with sincere hearts; we respectfully present them.
Namo Amitābha Buddha! (3 times)