Carp village prepares for Kitchen Gods' Day

For many Vietnamese people, the Tet (Lunar New Year) festival begins with a Kitchen God worshipping ceremony or Ong Cong – Ong Tao on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month. Vietnamese people prepare offerings for the Kitchen Gods, who will report the family’s affairs over the past year to the Jade Emperor. Common offerings include incense, flowers, fruit, betel and areca nuts, sticky rice, chicken, pork paste, spring rolls, and bamboo shoot soup. Indispensable offerings for the ritual are votive paper shoes, robes, mandarin bonnets, and red carp on which the Kitchen Gods can to ride to the Heaven (Photo: Vietnam+)

For Thuy Tram village in the northern province of Phu Tho, there is no busier time than Tet as it is a time of high demand for the village’s famous produce, red carp. Thuy Tram village is a famous red-carp raising area in the north and it’s also the country’s red carp growing cradle. There is no busier time than Tet for Thuy Tram village to produce red carp. The produce is distributed in many parts of northern Vietnam during Ong Cong Ong Tao or (the Kitchen God) ceremony which takes place on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month (Photo: Vietnam+)

Worshipping Kitchen Gods has been a long time tradition of the Vietnamese people. The worshipping ceremony is usually held before noon, because, according to Vietnamese belief, at 12 the Kitchen Gods will leave for Heaven. As the legend goes, during the Kitchen Gods Day, the Land Genie and the Kitchen Gods will ride carps to Heaven on the day to deliver an annual report on the household’s activities to the God of Heaven. The produce is distributed in many parts of northern Vietnam during Ong Cong Ong Tao or (the Kitchen God) ceremony which takes place on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month. It is also the a time of high demand for red carp in the market (Photo: Vietnam+)

Thuy Tram village in the northern province of Phu Tho is a famous red-carp raising area in the north and it’s also the country’s red carp growing cradle. There is no busier time than Tet for Thuy Tram village to produce red carp. The produce is distributed in many parts of northern Vietnam during Ong Cong Ong Tao or (the Kitchen God) ceremony which takes place on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month. The locality’s trade has existed for nearly six decades. The produce is distributed in many parts of northern Vietnam during Ong Cong Ong Tao or (the Kitchen God) (Photo: Vietnam+)

As the legend goes, during the Kitchen Gods Day, the Land Genie and the Kitchen Gods will ride carps to Heaven on the day to deliver an annual report on the household’s activities to the God of Heaven. As the gods make their journey on the back of fish, it is traditional to release live carps into lakes or rivers, which is considered a kindhearted deed to pray for good luck. On the 23rd day of the last month of the year, Vietnamese families hold a send-off ceremony for the Land Genie and the Kitchen Gods. Among other things, red carps are indispensable for the festival. In the photo: Thuy Tram villagers harvest red carps to prepare for Kitchen Gods' Day (Photo: Vietnam+)

After prayers are finished, the carp are released into a large body of water, usually lakes, but preferably streams or rivers. The carp will serve as their mean of transportation and therefore, must be healthy and looking their best. In the photo: Thuy Tram villagers harvest red carps to prepare for Kitchen Gods' Day. Thuy Tram village is a famous red-carp raising area in the north and it’s also the country’s red carp growing cradle. The produce is distributed in many parts of northern Vietnam during Ong Cong Ong Tao or (the Kitchen God) ceremony which takes place on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month(Photo: Vietnam+)

When Tet arrives, business blooms as large numbers of carp are ordered from all over the northern region. Red carp area reaches 30 hectares in Thuy Tram village, providing the market with 50 tonnes of red carp during this season. As the legend goes, during the Kitchen Gods Day, the Land Genie and the Kitchen Gods will ride carps to Heaven on the day to deliver an annual report on the household’s activities to the God of Heaven. In the photo: Thuy Tram villagers harvest red carps to prepare for Kitchen Gods' Day. Thuy Tram village in the northern province of Phu Tho is a famous red-carp raising area in the north (Photo: Vietnam+)

Thuy Tram village in the northern province of Phu Tho is a famous red-carp raising area in the north and it is also the country’s red carp growing cradle with an area of about 30 hectares. During the Ong Cong Ong Tao (or Kitchen Gods' Day), Thuy Tram village provides the market with 50 tonnes of red carp. During the Kitchen Gods Day, the Land Genie and the Kitchen Gods will ride carps to Heaven on the day to deliver an annual report on the household’s activities to the God of Heaven. The produce of Thuy Tram is distributed in many parts of northern Vietnam during Ong Cong Ong Tao or (the Kitchen God) (Photo: Vietnam+)

Legends say a carp is the only way a Kitchen God can get to heaven. That’s why on this day, families prepare carp as part of their offering. Some buy paper carp while some prefer live carp which are released into a river or lake after the worshiping ceremony. They turn into dragons and take the Kitchen Gods to heaven. After prayers are finished, the carp are released into a large body of water, usually lakes, but preferably streams or rivers. The carp will serve as their mean of transportation and therefore, must be healthy and looking their best (Photo: Vietnam+)

When Tet (the Lunar New Year) holiday arrives, business blooms as large numbers of carp are ordered from all over the northern region. The Thuy Tram village provides the market with 50 tonnes of red carp during this season. Carp raising has provided Thuy Tram villagers with a much more comfortable life. There is no busier time than Tet for the Thuy Tram village to produce red carp. The produce is distributed in many parts of northern Viet Nam during Ong Cong Ong Tao or (the Kitchen God) ceremony which takes place on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month (Photo: Vietnam+)

On the 23rd day of the last lunar month, the Kitchen Gods ride on carps up to Heaven to deliver their annual report on the family’s activities to the Jade Emperor. Before the ceremony to see off the Kitchen Gods, the family tidies up their house and buys offerings for a Kitchen Gods ritual. Indispensable offerings for the ritual are paper votive shoes, robes, and mandarin bonnets, and paper carps for the Kitchen Gods to ride to Heaven. Some households buy live carps. Traditionally, three live carps are offered to the Kitchen Gods to ride to Heaven. After the ritual, the carps are set free so they can carry the Kitchen Gods to Heaven and back (Photo: Vietnam+)

Traditionally, three live carps are offered to the Kitchen Gods to ride to Heaven. As the legend goes, during the Kitchen Gods Day or (the Kitchen God) ceremony which takes place on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month, the Land Genie and the Kitchen Gods will ride carps to Heaven on the day to deliver an annual report on the household’s activities to the God of Heaven. After the ritual, the carps are set free so they can carry the Kitchen Gods to Heaven and back. Carps represent prosperity and growth and have a magic ability to become dragons. Dragons can summon rain, a vital factor for the agricultural sector” (Photo: Vietnam+)

Red carp area reaches more than 30 hectares in Thuy Tram village, providing the market with about 50 tonnes of red carp. Carp raising has provided Thuy Tram villagers with a much more comfortable life. There is no busier time than Tet for Thuy Tram village to produce red carp. The produce is distributed in many parts of northern Vietnam during Ong Cong Ong Tao or (the Kitchen God) ceremony which takes place on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month. In the photo: Thuy Tram villagers harvest red carps to prepare for Ong Cong Ong Tao or Kitchen Gods' Day (Photo: Vietnam+)

During the Kitchen Gods Day, the Land Genie and the Kitchen Gods will ride carps to Heaven on the day to deliver an annual report on the household’s activities to the God of Heaven. As the gods make their journey on the back of fish, it is traditional to release live carps into lakes or rivers, which is considered a kindhearted deed to pray for good luck. On the 23rd day of the last month of the year, Vietnamese families hold a send-off ceremony for the Land Genie and the Kitchen Gods. Among other things, red carps are indispensable for the festival (Photo: Vietnam+)

Traditionally, three live carps are offered to the Kitchen Gods to ride to Heaven. After the ritual, the carps are set free so they can carry the Kitchen Gods to Heaven and back. Carps represent prosperity and growth and have a magic ability to become dragons. On the 23rd day of the last lunar month, the Kitchen Gods ride on carps up to Heaven to deliver their annual report on the family’s activities to the Jade Emperor. Before the ceremony to see off the Kitchen Gods, the family tidies up their house and buys offerings for a Kitchen Gods ritual. In the photo: Thuy Tram villagers harvest red carps to prepare for Kitchen Gods' Day (Photo: Vietnam+)

In Vietnamese belief, the Kitchen Gods are the guardian spirits of all household affairs, bringing good luck and happiness to the family and preventing evil spirits from entering the home. On the 23rd day of the last lunar month, the Kitchen Gods ride on carps up to Heaven to deliver their annual report on the family’s activities to the Jade Emperor. Before the ceremony to see off the Kitchen Gods, the family tidies up their house and buys offerings including carps for a Kitchen Gods ritual. In the photo: Thuy Tram villagers harvest red carps to prepare for Kitchen Gods' Day (Photo: Vietnam+)

Indispensable offerings for the ritual to see off the Kitchen Gods are paper votive shoes, robes, and mandarin bonnets, and paper carps for the Kitchen Gods to ride to Heaven. Many households buy live carps. Traditionally, three live carps are offered to the Kitchen Gods to ride to Heaven. After the ritual, the carps are set free so they can carry the Kitchen Gods to Heaven and back . On the 23rd day of the last month of the year, Vietnamese families hold a send-off ceremony for the Land Genie and the Kitchen Gods. Among other things, red carps are indispensable for the festival (Photo: Vietnam+)

Vietnamese people in the north normally hold the ceremony early, preparing a tray of offerings from the 20-23 days of the last lunar month. Not many people conduct ceremonies after that because they believe the Kitchen Gods have already gone to Heaven. The difference between the ritual in the north and in other regions is the majority of families offer carp as offerings. Depending on each province and family, the carp can be real or made of paper. While live carp are placed on a tray and set free after the ceremony, the paper carp are burnt to help the Gods travel to Heaven (Photo: Vietnam+)

Each family in each region has their own way of preparing offerings for the Kitchen Gods. Common offerings include incense, flowers, fruit, betel and areca nuts, sticky rice, chicken, pork paste, spring rolls, and bamboo shoot soup. Indispensable offerings for the ritual are votive paper shoes, robes, mandarin bonnets, and carp on which the Kitchen Gods can to ride to Heaven. On the 23rd day of the last month of the year, Vietnamese families hold a send-off ceremony for the Land Genie and the Kitchen Gods. Among other things, red carps are indispensable for the Ong Cong – Ong Tao festival (Photo: Vietnam+)

Legends say a carp is the only way a Kitchen God can get to heaven. That’s why on this day, families prepare carp as part of their offering. Some buy paper carp while some prefer live carp which are released into a river or lake after the worshiping ceremony. They turn into dragons and take the Kitchen Gods to heaven. Traditionally, three live carps are offered to the Kitchen Gods to ride to Heaven. After the ritual, the carps are set free so they can carry the Kitchen Gods to Heaven and back. Carps represent prosperity and growth and have a magic ability to become dragons (Photo: Vietnam+)