What is Ramưwan Festival?
Ramưwan, also known as the fasting month or Ramadan, is the traditional New Year festival of the Cham Bani and Cham Islam communities in Vietnam. It takes place on the first day of the 9th month of the Islamic calendar and lasts for one month, usually falling between February and June. This occasion embodies the principle of remembering one's roots, emphasizing family values and filial piety.
Three Main Parts of the Festival
The Ramưwan festival consists of three main parts: the grave-visiting ceremony, ancestral worship, and the fasting ritual at Bani mosques and Islam temples.
The Grave-Visiting Ceremony
The grave-visiting ceremony is the opening and most important part. On the first day, people visit graves far from home; on the second and third days, they visit those closer. The Cham Bani believe this ceremony invites ancestors to join the New Year celebration. Families in traditional attire bring offerings including betel nuts, tobacco, water, and cakes to community cemeteries. The Char priest recites the Koran in Arabic while assistants sprinkle holy water on gravestones to purify and cool the deceased. The Cham graves are covered with sand and marked by two round stones aligned North-South.
Ancestral Worship
After the grave-visiting ceremony, families return home to perform ancestral worship and host feasts for guests and relatives. The Cham Bani keep ancestral altars at home for only two days before moving them to the mosque for the rest of Ramưwan. Villages organize gatherings at stadiums where hundreds of people celebrate the new year with traditional songs and dances.
The Fasting Month
During the fasting month, Bani followers abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset for 5 days, except for pregnant women, children, the elderly, and the sick. They devote time to prayer, reflection, and charitable acts. The Cham Islam community observes fasting at the temple for the entire month.
Cultural Significance
The Cham Bani believe the fasting month purifies body and mind, helping control worldly desires and promoting community unity. The grave-visiting ceremony carries profound humanistic values, teaching younger generations about filial piety and ancestral reverence. All people are equal regardless of social status in expressing gratitude to ancestors.
The blend of ethnic identity with religious elements, along with customs reflecting folk beliefs and traditional culture, makes Ramưwan an attractive cultural event for visitors exploring the unique heritage of the Cham people in Ninh Thuan.
