Manifestation Anniversay aka Birthday of Yuan Shi Tian Zun (元始天尊萬壽日)

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First Day of Lunar New Year (正月初一日), a day for the Chinese to celebrate the arrival of a New Year, the Joyous Spring Season back in the Mortal World, in Taoism, this is also a Day that the Taoists will pay their sincere & faithful respect to Yuan Shi Tian Zun (元始天尊), one of the San Qing aka Three Supreme One (三清道祖).

Yuan Shi Tian Zun, a manifestation of Yuan Shi Tian Wang (元始天王) aka the Initial Gust of Miracle Energy or Force before the Universe & Dimensions existed. After Yuan Shi Tian Wang reaches a certain stage of manifestation, he manifested the very first Manifestation Energy to create Yuan Shi Tian Zun and this day was believed to be the Day of the Start of a New Heavenly Era (which later became the 1st Day of Lunar New Year).

Upon being manifested, Yuan Shi Tian Zun started to perform his task by making different forms of manifestations and the creation of the Universe, other Dimensions, Deities and of cos, the different Planets in this Universe.

So on this Day, what shall one self prepared?

For a Taoist, the things that needed to be prepared are very simple.

Just prepared the Taoist Five Offerings (道教五供) or the most, the Ten Offerings (道教十供), once ready, place them on the Altar that set-up facing the Heaven (with an Urn, 2 Candles and some simple paper-offerings).

After ushering-in the New Year, one self can start to pay respect to Yuan Shi Tian Zun.

Sincerely make a short report to Yuan Shi Tian Zun who you are, what is the event today and after the report, make 3 times of kneeling down, each time of the kneeling down, make 3 kowtows (which make 9 kowtows after the whole honouring).

Once the kneeling & kowtow are done, stand-up and make a simple bow and then leave the spot.

Besides doing the honouring, this is a Day that the Taoists will do chanting & reciting. On this Day, all chanting & reciting of Scriptures & Mantras, the credits & merits will be enhanced & multiplied.

On the next morning, after wake-up, make another round of offering of incenses and then burnt off the paper-offerings.

For normal Chinese who wished to pay respect to Yuan Shi Tian Zun, this will be encouraged. Just prepare the items that one self usually prepared for honouring the Home Deities. After preparation, place the items on the Main Altar or if one self wish to set up a Temp Altar facing the Heaven, this will be best.

Follow the procedure that being mentioned above.

So when can remove the Altar?

For those who wish to set-up the Altar till the 15th Day, this is encouraged, if not, can remove the Altar on the 2nd Day of Lunar New Year.
Before removing the Altar, do not discard the Five or Ten offerings, one self can transfer the offerings to the Main Altar.