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Lễ tảo mộ và cúng gia tiên dịp Ramưwan của người Chăm Bà Ni

Culture and belief A record of custom.

About this rite: when it is held and for whom

Also called: Tết Ramưwan, Tảo mộ Chăm Bà Ni, Ramuwan

By the custom of the Chăm Bà Ni, clans go to the cemetery (Ghur) to visit graves and invite the grandparents back to enjoy Tết, then offer a savory tray and a sweet tray at home; afterward the dignitaries enter the holy hall to keep the month of fasting.

When
Three days before the month of Ramưwan (the 9th month of the Islamic calendar of the Chăm Bà Ni)
For whom
The grandparents and ancestors of the clan

Offerings and how the rite is done

As commonly practised and recorded by the sources. Each family and each region may do it differently.

South Central Coast, Chăm, Ninh Thuận, Cham Bani tradition (Cham Awal), At the grave

When
Ba ngày trước tháng Ramưwan (một nguồn ghi ngày 29, 30 tháng 8 và mùng 1 tháng 9 lịch Hồi giáo): ngày đầu tảo mộ ở nghĩa trang xa làng, các ngày sau ở chỗ gần hơn
Where the offerings are set
The Ghur (cemeteries) of the lineages; graves are heaped with sand and marked with two stones
Who makes the offering
The whole clan wears traditional clothing; the Char master (Po Acar) leads the rite, with assistant officiants

Offerings

OfferingNotes
Betel leaves and areca nuts already prepared in rollsRequired
Cigarettes
Drinking water
Holy water
Bánh (cakes)Nhân Dân newspaper records that there are cakes
Agarwood, a brass box holding betel leaves and areca nutsbrought along by the dignitaries

Steps

  1. Early in the morning the whole clan goes to the cemetery, lays out the offerings, and sits in a circle around the graves by each lineage
  2. The Char master prays; the assistant officiants sprinkle holy water on each grave stone
  3. They recite prayers and offer to invite the grandparents home to enjoy Tết

South Central Coast, Chăm, Ninh Thuận, Cham Bani tradition (Cham Awal), Address to the ancestors

When
After the grave-visiting rite; the altar at home is set up for only two days
Where the offerings are set
At home
Who makes the offering
Children and grandchildren gather; the Char master chants prayers

Offerings

OfferingQuantityNotes
Tray with meat dishes1Required
Sweet tray1Required
Bánh tét, bánh ítmade before Tết

Steps

  1. They set out the offering tray and invite the grandparents and ancestors to join in
  2. The Char master chants prayers and offers for each person in the family, about 10 minutes each
  3. They eat and drink and receive guests coming to wish Tết
  4. After two days, they escort the grandparents and ancestors into the pagoda (holy hall) until the end of the Ramưwan season
  5. In the evening of the 1st of the 9th month of the Islamic calendar, the dignitaries enter the holy hall to begin the month of fasting

Sources

  • Độc đáo Lễ hội Ramưwan của đồng bào Chăm Ninh Thuận (nhandan.vn)
  • Cảm động tục tảo mộ ngày cuối năm và Tết Ramưwan của người Chăm Bàni (baophapluat.vn)
  • Rộn ràng lễ hội Ramưwan ở Ninh Thuận (Báo Pháp Luật TP.HCM, tuoitre.vn/plo)
  • Ramưwan, tháng chay tịnh của người Chăm Awal (Báo Pháp Luật TP.HCM, tuoitre.vn/plo)
  • Đặc sắc lễ tảo mộ của đồng bào Chăm Bà Ni (baovanhoa.vn)
  • Ramưwan: Lời mời đầu Xuân hướng về cội nguồn xứ Chăm (baovanhoa.vn)

Part of the open dataset Types of Vietnamese offering rites and Vietnamese offering procedures, licensed CC BY 4.0.

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