Q: Master Lu, I would like to ask about the significance of the Dragon Boat Festival (Duanwu Festival) and what we should be aware of on this special day?
A:
The Dragon Boat Festival is one of those festivals that we can pay respect to the deceased. It is the day to remember and recollect memories of the deceased whom we knew, while eating rice dumplings.
The door of the Underworld will be opened during the Dragon Boat Festival (similar to festivals such as the Ching Ming Festival, Zhong Yuan Festival (Ullambana Festival) and Dong Zhi Festival (Winter Solstice). It is just like a short school break. One month prior to the festival, a lot of spirits will be freed. As such, it could trigger arguments between couples or among family members, cause illnesses, etc.
There is a saying that we should not wish each other happiness during the Dragon Boat Festival, as during the Ching Ming Festival. Rather, we should only wish each other “safe and well” because it is a special day for us to pay respect to the deceased. This is an appropriate practice; it has long been advocated by several ancient dynasties in China.
Indeed, every festival is different. While it is perfectly fine to wish each other happiness during other festivals, doing so during the Dragon Boat Festival or the Ching Ming Festival is not appropriate.
On the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, you can offer the First Incense at 12am. You may burn up to 49 Little Houses (the sum for all different recipients). You may also recite the Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentance up to 49 times.
It is not suitable to set up a Buddhist altar during the Dragon Boat Festival, which falls on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month. The 5th lunar month is also commonly known as “the month of the five poisons”. With the exception of this day, it is fine to set up an altar on other days of the 5th lunar month, preferably at the beginning of the month.
Having wedding ceremonies on the day of the Dragon Boat Festival is not recommended. This also applies to the Ching Ming Festival, Zhong Yuan Festival (Ullambana Festival), and Dong Zhi Festival (Winter Solstice).
发表于 2021-9-5 15:21:07