Worshipping the Kitchen Gods in the Kitchen or on the Altar?

When worshipping the Kitchen Gods, if the family does not have a separate altar for the Kitchen Gods, incense should be lit at the altar of deities or ancestors, rather than performing the ritual in the kitchen.

According to traditional beliefs, the worship of the Kitchen Gods on the 23rd day of the last month of the lunar calendar is a long-standing custom. This day marks the occasion when the Kitchen Gods ride their carp to Heaven to report to the Jade Emperor about all that they have seen and heard on earth; a truthful and impartial account of the good and bad deeds of humans in the world.

The Kitchen Gods in Vietnamese folklore originate from the three deities of Earth God, Land God, and Kitchen God in Taoism from China, but they have been localized into the legend of “two men and one woman” – the God of Earth, the God of the House, and the God of the Kitchen. Nevertheless, people still commonly refer to them collectively as the Kitchen Gods or Mr. Tao.

The preparation of the offering tray is to send the Kitchen Gods back to Heaven to report on the family’s events over the past year and to connect the family with the deities in Heaven, conveying the wishes of the homeowner for the new year.

Do not worship in the kitchen.

Historically, worshipping the Kitchen Gods has been a folk tradition, a beautiful aspect of the spiritual culture of the Vietnamese people, so there are no specific documents regulating this practice. Many people wonder where to worship the Kitchen Gods: in the house or in the kitchen?

In an interview, cultural researcher PGS.TS Tran Lam Bien stated that the offering tray for the Kitchen Gods must be placed in a separate location. Families can conduct the worship ceremony inside the house, in the kitchen, or even outdoors, depending on the customs of each region.

According to feng shui expert Pham Cuong, during the worship of the Kitchen Gods, if your house has an altar for them (usually located near the kitchen), incense should be lit at this altar. If there is no separate altar for the Kitchen Gods, incense should be lit at the altar of deities or ancestors, but it is not advisable to perform the ritual in the kitchen because historically, the altar has always been considered an antenna for communication between the two worlds of the living and the spiritual, between earthly beings and deities.

What offerings are made to the Kitchen Gods?

Offerings to the Kitchen Gods include: Two winged hats for the male Kitchen Gods and one non-winged hat for the female Kitchen God. The offerings can vary by region. In the North, it is common to offer live carp in a water basin, symbolizing that “the fish transforms into a dragon” – the fish will turn into a dragon to take the Kitchen Gods back to Heaven. In the Central region, a paper horse with a complete saddle and reins is offered. In the South, the offerings are simpler, consisting of just the hats, clothes, and a pair of paper sandals.

In addition to these main offerings, families often prepare either savory or vegetarian offerings to send off the Kitchen Gods. The savory offerings can include sticky rice, chicken, and mushroom or bamboo shoots dishes, while vegetarian offerings consist of betel leaves, flowers, fruits, and gold and silver paper.

According to tradition, for families with children, a boiled chicken is also offered to the Kitchen Gods. This chicken must be a young rooster that has just started crowing (meaning a young chicken) to symbolize asking the Kitchen Gods to request from the Jade Emperor that the child grow up with vigor and vitality like the young rooster.

After setting up the offerings, lighting incense, and finishing the prayer, wait until the incense burns out before lighting another stick, then conclude the ceremony, burn the joss paper, and release the carp into a pond, lake, river, or stream to “carry” the Kitchen Gods up to Heaven.

Is it appropriate to worship the Kitchen Gods at the God of Wealth altar?

If your shop is selling food, then it is advisable to worship. However, if the shop does not have a kitchen and is not related to cooking, then the Kitchen Gods should only be worshiped at home. This is because shops typically worship the God of Wealth and the Land God, both of whom have their own cultural worship practices on the first day of the lunar new year, which are held from the 2nd to the 5th of the first month.

Prayer for the Kitchen Gods at the God of Wealth altar

Respectfully bow to the Supreme Deity

Respectfully bow to the Five Emperors: the Eastern Green Emperor, the Southern Red Emperor, the Western White Emperor, the Northern Black Emperor, and the Central Yellow Emperor.

Respectfully bow to the Heavenly Generals and the Celestial Army.

Respectfully bow to the Mountain God, Dragon God, Earth God, Kitchen Gods, and the Earth God of the Kitchen.

Today is the 23rd day of the last month of the year… Nhâm Dần, the day the Kitchen Gods return to Heaven to report.

The faithful servant’s name is… born on… month… year… from… permanent address…

With a sincere heart, I offer a few offerings and incense to humbly invite the Supreme Deity, the Five Emperors, the Heavenly Generals, the Celestial Army, and all deities above and below to witness my ritual to send the Earth God Kitchen Gods back to Heaven.

I respectfully bow to the Earth God, Land God, Kitchen Gods, and the Earth God of the Kitchen to witness. Over the past year, thanks to the grace of the deities, we have enjoyed health, happiness, and good fortune.

Now, I perform this ritual with a sincere heart to send you back to Heaven to report to the Supreme Deity, the Five Emperors, and all deities to bless and protect my country, my homeland, my family, and my household with health, happiness, and prosperity.

I pray to the Supreme Deity, the Five Emperors, the deities, and all the gods to witness my sincere heart.

Wishing the Supreme Deity, the Five Emperors, and all deities eternal longevity!

I sincerely thank you, I sincerely thank you, I sincerely thank you.

(After completing the worship, bow respectfully 9 times)