Buying Carp to Send the Kitchen God on His Way

 

 

Preparing to Send the Kitchen God (Ông Táo) on His Way

Posted by VV about a year ago · 1 Comment 

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During Tet (Lunar New Year), offerings are also made to the Kitchen God, “Ông Táo”. Along with two others, “the 3 Gods watch and evaluate the good and bad things people have done, and they decide the prosperity of a family. Therefore, an altar to worship them is a must. (…) Every year, on 23rd day of 12th month in Lunar Year calendar (in 2011, it is the January 26 on the western calendar); these Gods go for a meeting in heaven and report what people had done in the past year. Vietnamese people celebrate on this day. In the ceremony, the offering include a carp ship which is their transport, and 3 sets of traditional official paper dress hats, long dresses and shoes but no pants. This is because in the fire, their pants were burnt off.”Source: Viet Horizon

Photos from: VietNamNet

(Hanoi) As Tet draws near, Vietnamese people are buying items to prepare to send the Kitchen God (Ông Táo) on his way to heaven. Vietnamese also buy carp to release in nearby lakes and rivers. This is a symbolic act as the Kitchen God is said to ride a carp to heaven.