Lễ Tế Ngu (the three-day ceremony)

Lễ Tế ngu (three days), mở cửa mả (opening the grave). Three days after burial: sơ ngu, tái ngu, tam ngu; in Nam Bộ the third day is the mở cửa mả (opening the grave) ceremony

  • Used across Vietnam
  • Folk practice

Culture and belief A record of custom.

What this prayer says

Prayer text in the lễ Tế Ngu (three-day ceremony) after burial, addressing Heaven, the Buddhas, Thành hoàng (village tutelary deity), Táo quân (Kitchen Gods) and ancestors, presenting the spirit tablet of the deceased and offering a modest tray to show sincerity, asking for protection and support. Recited during the whole ceremony, by ancient custom, and may be the Sơ Ngu, Tái Ngu or Tam Ngu ceremony.

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

Fill in before the rite

Your name and address appear in the prayer below and are kept on this device only.

Your regional custom

Showing the version used across Vietnam.

2 more blanks

Lines that depend on the occasion

  • Lễ Sơ Ngu (hoặc Tái Ngu, Tam Ngu): Chosen according to which offering: the first day is Sơ ngu, the second day Tái ngu, the third day Tam ngu.

Offerings and how the rite is done

Offerings, steps and things to avoid for Lễ Tế ngu (three days), mở cửa mả (opening the grave)

Other texts for Lễ Tế ngu (three days), mở cửa mả (opening the grave)

More about Lễ Tế ngu (three days), mở cửa mả (opening the grave)

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

The wording is kept exactly as published by the source. The dotted italic words are blanks for you to fill in.

Sources

  • Văn khấn trong lễ tang (vankhan.vn)
  • Văn khấn Lễ Tế Ngu trong tang lễ (tuvi.vn)
  • Lễ cúng 3 ngày (cúng tam chiêu), Bài cúng mở cửa mả 3 ngày (datamnguyen.vn)

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.