Meaningful Actions to Show Gratitude to Parents during Vu Lan Festival

By Tâm Hoa - 18/08/2018

The Vu Lan Festival is an occasion for children to perform meaningful acts to show gratitude to their parents. Don't forget the following meaningful deeds!

Every autumn, children have the opportunity to show their love for their parents during the Vu Lan Festival. This festival is a time to pay tribute to parents, reconnect with the source of love, following the long-standing tradition of the Vietnamese who highly value filial piety.

Vu Lan is a time for all children to show filial piety to their parents. However, many young people may not know how to express their feelings. So, how should you show gratitude? What should you do during the Vu Lan Festival? Here are some things you should do during Vu Lan:

Prepare a meal for offering on Vu Lan Festival

Vu Lan is celebrated on the 14th and 15th of the 7th lunar month, another name for the 15th day of the 7th lunar month. On this day, you should prepare an offering to thank the deities and make a meal to remember your ancestors, praying for their souls' liberation and peace for your family. The offering during Vu Lan (15th day of the 7th lunar month) can be done at the temple or at home. It includes offerings to Buddha, deities, ancestors, hungry ghosts, and the release of animals.

Pray for your parents at the temple

On this day, you can go to the temple, light incense, and pray for your parents. However, temples are usually very crowded on this day with many children coming to pray for their parents like you. The important thing is to sincerely pray for your parents' safety, well-being, and happiness with their family and children.

Eat vegetarian food to accumulate merit

Eating vegetarian food is a spiritual practice in Vietnam, bringing people back to serenity and their true selves. Eating vegetarian food shows sincerity and reduces harm to living beings. Dedicate a day to eating vegetarian food and praying for your parents' peace. Eating vegetarian food is not only good for health but also protects the living environment for ourselves.

Give your parents blessings

On this day, young people often lack the opportunity to say sweet and heartfelt words like: "I love you, Mom" or "I love you, Dad." Vu Lan is the perfect time to say these words to your parents, even though they know your feelings. Don't forget the heartfelt words for those who raised you. Words from the heart on this day will be more important than usual words. Don't forget to give your parents deep expressions of love.

Give your parents a gift

A simple yet meaningful gift on Vu Lan is something you should do for your parents. Whether it is a cheap or expensive gift, receiving it from their child will warm their hearts. If your parents are no longer with you, the meaningful gift is to live well today.

Live well to make your parents proud

This life is given by your parents. They have brought you up, so you have what you have today. Therefore, you need to live well, contributing to life and making your parents proud. Wherever you go, whoever you are, or whatever you do, living well will make your parents smile, whether in the afterlife or right beside you. Raising a child is hard, but parents always wish for their children's happiness and peace. Thus, on this day, don't forget to do good deeds.

Wishing you a joyful and happy Vu Lan Festival!

Compiled by Information and Communications Department