Cham ethnic people in Ninh Thuan joyfully celebrate Ramuwan festival

A joyful atmosphere is flooding through Cham Bani families in Ninh Thuan province during their traditional Ramuwan festival, which is taking place from May 14 to 16.

Cham women make traditional cakes for the Ramuwan festival
Cham women make traditional cakes for the Ramuwan festival

Every house and road of the village is colourfully adorned. The festival is an opportunity for Cham ethnic people to reunite with their family members, pay gratitude to their ancestors, and consolidate solidarity and mutual support in the community.

Thanh Tin hamlet in Phuoc Hai commune, Ninh Phuoc district is home to more than 1,000 ethnic Cham households. Over recent years, in addition to promoting unity and mutual support, the locales have also actively participated in building rural areas, ensuring security and social order, keeping their living environment clean, and simplifying their rituals for funerals and festivals.

95% of the roads in the hamlet have been concreted so far, and 100% of households there have access to the national grid and a hygienic water source.

The head of the hamlet, Kieu Thanh Phien, said that over the past years, the locals are grateful and glad to have received the Party and State’s care in improving the traffic system.

In response to climate change, local residents have been actively planting new crop varieties, applying scientific and technological advances in the production process, which have significantly contributed to improving their quality of life and the appearance of their environment.

A few days ahead of the festival, those who are working far from their homeland, return home to redecorate their houses and prepare traditional dishes for the special occasion.

During the three-day festival, Cham folk songs are played over broadcasting systems in Phuoc Nhon 1, Phuoc Nhon 1, Phuoc Nhon 1, and An Nhon hamlets, Xuan Hai commune, Ninh Hai district.

Cham Bani families in Xuan Hai commune, Ninh Hai district visit their ancestors’ graves to invite them back home to celebrate Ramuwan.

Following their traditional ritual, on the morning of the first two days, Cham Bani families dress in traditional costumes and visit their ancestors’ graves. They make offerings to the ancestors and invite them back home to celebrate Ramuwan.

“I am working far from home, but I always go home for the Ramuwan festival to pay homage to my ancestors and pray for the best things for families and people,” said Hanim Phun from Phuoc Nhon 1 hamlet.

This year, Truong Thi Thu Dinh’s family in Van Lam 3 hamlet, Phuoc Nam commune, Thuan Nam district greet the Ramuwan festival with a lot of joy as her family harvested up to eight tonnes of rice per hectare over the past year.

Since the household’s economic situation is improved, the family makes a generous preparation for the festival. “After many years, we are now wealthy enough to make Cham people’s Non Ya and Nung traditional cakes and other offerings to pay gratitude to our ancestors,” Dinh said.

Truong Thi Kim Tien’s family is filled with even bigger happiness as each of her three children have now graduated and found jobs in Ho Chi Minh City.

Family members prepare offerings for an ancestor worshipping ritual at home.

After visiting their ancestors’ graves, Cham Bani families in Ninh Thuan host an ancestor worshipping ritual at their homes to pray for a new year full of peace and prosperity.

Ramuwan festival then continues with various entertainment activities, and cultural, and sporting events, which attract thousands of visitors and pilgrims.

During the festival, local authorities, departments, sectors, and organisations visit and present gifts to the Cham Bani community to congratulate them on their traditional occasion and encourage they to follow the Party and State’s guidelines and policies and contribute to the local socio-economic development.

When the Ramuwan festival concludes, Cham Bani people begin the month of Ramadan, when monks and dignitaries move to temples and mosques to chant. Cham people also spend time going to temples and mosques to self-evaluate on their lives over the past year and refresh their mind-set to live a better life while praying for a blessed new year.

Cham dignitaries hold talks before moving to temples and mosques for chanting after the Ramuwan festival concludes.