Two Distinct Yet Intertwined Festivities
On September 6, 2025, Vietnam will celebrate two significant festivals, the Lễ Vu Lan Feast and the Festival of Wandering Souls. Both of these events, occurring on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month, hold deep cultural and spiritual significance, rooted in Buddhist and folk traditions. While they share a common date and theme of honouring the deceased, they differ in their origins, purposes, and practices.
Lễ Vu Lan Feast: A Celebration of Filial Piety
The Lễ Vu Lan Feast, one of the main festivals in Mahayana Buddhism, traces its origins to China but has been celebrated in Vietnam since the 11th century. This festival is deeply intertwined with the story of Venerable Monk Muc Kieu Lien, one of the great disciples of Buddha Shakyamuni. According to legend, after achieving significant successes in his practice, Muc Kieu Lien used his magical eyes to search for his deceased mother. To his heartbreak, he found her suffering as a hungry ghost, a fate resulting from her past misdeeds.
In an attempt to alleviate her suffering, Muc Kieu Lien used his powers to deliver rice to her in hell, only to see it transform into fire. Desperate, he sought Buddha’s guidance. Buddha instructed that the only way to save her was through the collective prayers of monks worldwide. Thus, on the full moon day of the seventh month, monks were invited, offerings were prepared, and prayers were conducted to help his mother. Buddha emphasized that this method should be used by all beings wishing to show filial piety to their parents, leading to the birth of the Vu Lan Feast.
Celebrated as a “Day of Filial Piety,” the Vu Lan Feast involves people visiting temples to pray for their ancestors, offering food, and performing rituals to transfer merit to the deceased. It is a day dedicated to honoring deceased parents and ancestors, reflecting the deep-rooted value of filial piety in Vietnamese culture.
Festival of The Hungry Ghosts or Festival of Wandering Souls (“Lễ Xá Tội Vong Nhân”): Appeasing the Departed
The Festival of Wandering Souls, also known as the Ghost Festival, is based on folk beliefs that on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, the gates of hell are opened, allowing souls to roam the living world. This day is seen as a time to remember and honor ancestors by sending offerings and food. However, it is also believed that some spirits receive nothing and continue to suffer. To address this, people prepare tables full of offerings such as porridge, rice, and clothes to bless these wandering souls, hoping to help them overcome their pains and achieve reincarnation.
While Lễ Vu Lan focuses on filial piety and honoring one’s ancestors, the Festival Hungry Ghosts or of the Wandering Souls is about appeasing all spirits, especially those who are forgotten or receive no offerings. People prepare various offerings to ensure that no wandering soul is left unremembered or unprovided for, reflecting a broader sense of compassion and responsibility towards all departed beings.
Distinctions and Interconnections
Despite their distinct origins and purposes, Lễ Vu Lan and the Festival of Wandering Souls share a common date and theme of honoring the deceased.
Lễ Vu Lan is a deeply Buddhist festival with a specific focus on filial piety, rooted in the teachings of Buddha and the story of Muc Kieu Lien.
In contrast, the Festival of Wandering Souls stems from folk beliefs about the afterlife and the need to care for all spirits, particularly those who are neglected.
In summary, both festivals highlight the Vietnamese culture’s respect and care for the deceased, whether through the lens of Buddhism or folk traditions.
On August 18th, 2024, these intertwined yet distinct celebrations will offer a profound glimpse into Vietnam’s spiritual and cultural heritage, reminding all of the importance of honouring and remembering those who have passed.
Further Reading on Inoriza.org
Lễ Vu Lan (Filial Piety ceremony)
The Hungry Ghost Month (Tháng Cô Hồn, tháng 7 âm lịch)
Spirits and Ghosts in Vietnam: Unravelling the Legacy of Belief and Protection