Prayer text at the grave before the death anniversary

Cúng tiên thường (cáo giỗ) (offering on the day before the death anniversary, announcing the giỗ). Afternoon of the day before the main giỗ (death anniversary); by custom only performed before major giỗ (giỗ of grandparents, parents, spouses)

  • Used across Vietnam
  • Folk practice
  • At the grave

Culture and belief A record of custom.

What this prayer says

Prayer at the grave before the giỗ (death anniversary) day, read when visiting, tidying the grave and offering incense, flowers and simple offerings; asking the deities who watch over the cemetery for permission and inviting the spirit to return home to receive the giỗ offerings with the ancestors and descendants.

The prayer below is kept in Vietnamese, the language it is read aloud in during the rite.

Fill in before the rite

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Your regional custom

Showing the version used across Vietnam.

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Offerings and how the rite is done

Offerings, steps and things to avoid for Cúng tiên thường (cáo giỗ) (offering on the day before the death anniversary, announcing the giỗ)

Other texts for Cúng tiên thường (cáo giỗ) (offering on the day before the death anniversary, announcing the giỗ)

More about Cúng tiên thường (cáo giỗ) (offering on the day before the death anniversary, announcing the giỗ)

Nhật Nguyệt articles on the rite, the custom and how to prepare.

Collected text. The dotted italic words are blanks for you to fill in.

Part of the open dataset Vietnamese offering prayers (văn cúng), licensed CC BY 4.0.

More prayer textsDeath anniversaries, Tết, the home, business, life-cycle rites and regional rites.