Cultural heritage in Binh Nghia Cham village

In late April and early May, Cham villages in Ninh Thuan province are bustling with celebrations for the Cham New Year 2025. The Cham village of Binh Nghia, in particular, celebrates the New Year with a series of unique rituals, deeply rooted in spirituality, praying for national peace and prosperity, favorable weather, bountiful harvests, and family happiness. The New Year rituals of the Cham people in Binh Nghia village were included in the list of National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2021.

Religious leaders presided over the Rija Harei ceremony, marking the beginning of a series of spiritual and religious activities in the first month of the new year 2025 in Binh Nghia Cham village.

These days, the Cham villages in Ninh Thuan are bustling with preparations for the Rija Nugar ceremony (Rija: Ceremony, Nugar: Land) - the most important ritual in the community's spiritual life. The ceremony takes place on the Thursday and Friday of the first month of the Cham calendar, presided over by dignitaries such as Maduen (shaman), Kadhar (shaman), Kaing (dancer), Camanei (temple keeper), and Pajau (female shaman).

To the sounds of the baranung drums, ghi nang stringed instruments, kanhi stringed instruments, and saranai horns, Mr. Kaing performs traditional dances such as the whip dance, boat dance, and fire-stepping dance, creating a vibrant and joyful atmosphere. The Cham people, dressed in traditional attire, offer sacrifices to the gods and ancestors, hoping to ward off evil and welcome good fortune, praying for a new year of flourishing life and a bountiful harvest. Rija Nugar is not only a spiritual ritual but also a vibrant showcase of the unique folk culture and performing arts of the Cham people.

Mr. Maduen Sam Tanh beat the baranung drum and sang songs praising the merits of the deities who protected the villagers, bringing them peace and happiness.

Visiting Binh Nghia village, Bac Son commune, Thuan Bac district in the early days of the Cham New Year 2025, we witnessed a vibrant atmosphere with many unique ceremonial activities celebrating the new year. At the Po Bin Thuen temple, Mr. Luong Thi, Head of the village's customs committee, happily shared: The 2024-2025 Winter-Spring rice crop was successful in both yield and price, allowing the villagers to prepare offerings for Tet in a warm and joyful atmosphere, while also preparing for the new Summer-Autumn crop. He explained that the name Binh Nghia in the Cham language is "Palei Bal Riya," meaning "large city" (Palei: village, Bal: city, Riya: large).

The New Year rituals in Binh Nghia village take place over nearly a month, from April 30th to May 21st, 2025, with a series of eight typical festivals deeply rooted in Cham culture. It begins with the Rija Harei ceremony on the morning of April 30th at the Po Bin Thuer temple – a ritual praying for peace for the community. This is followed by the Rija Nugar ceremony, celebrating the New Year, held on May 10th in Binh Nghia village. On May 14th, the Po Bin Thuer ceremony takes place in My Tuong village (Nhon Hai commune, Ninh Hai district), followed by the Po Bia Chuai ceremony on May 15th in My Hiep village (Thanh Hai commune, Ninh Hai district). The series concludes with the Palao Yang ceremony on May 21st in Binh Nghia village, with wishes for favorable weather, abundant harvests, flourishing nature, and the health and well-being of the community.

Mr. Kaing Luong Van Choi, disguised as Po Riyak, used an oar to guide the villagers through the rough seas and strong winds to a safe harbor.

The temple caretaker of Thap Van Doc temple performs a dance inviting ancestors to celebrate the New Year 2025 with the villagers of Binh Nghia.

On the morning of April 30th, the Rija Harei ceremony was held at the Po Bin Thuen temple grounds in Binh Nghia village, marking the beginning of the New Year's festival activities. From early morning, village officials and villagers brought offerings such as chickens, fruits, flowers, betel nuts, rice, and soup to present to the deities. The ceremony was presided over by Mr. Maduen Sam Tanh, Mr. Kaing Chau Quay, Mr. Kaing Luong Van Choi, the temple caretaker of Thap Van Doc, and Mr. Kadhar Chau Thien Lanh. Mr. Maduen Sam Tanh beat the baranung drum and sang songs praising the merits of the deities, praying for a peaceful, prosperous, and abundant new year for the villagers. Mr. Kaing Luong Van Choi dressed up as the deities and performed the dances of Po Nai, Po Ina Nagar, and Po Riyak, with oars symbolizing the villagers' journey through the waves to a safe harbor.

The Cham people of Binh Nghia village offer gifts to the deities in the Rija Harei ceremony, marking the beginning of the new year 2025.

In a conversation with Mr. Truong Thanh Loi, Party Secretary and Head of Binh Nghia village, we learned that the village currently has 891 households with 4,698 Cham people. Thanks to the irrigation system from the Bac Canal and Song Trau Lake, the village has 186 hectares of rice fields that are actively irrigated, ensuring 2-3 rice crops per year. In the 2024-2025 Winter-Spring crop season alone, farmers harvested an average of 75 quintals/hectare, with traders buying dried rice at 7,300 VND/kg. After deducting all costs, farmers earned an average profit of 25-30 million VND/hectare. The village currently has 43 poor households, receiving support from national target programs to improve their livelihoods. Many families are successful in production and business, such as Mr. Chau Quay, Mr. Dao Van To, Mr. Thanh Len, and some have achieved success as doctors, engineers, and teachers, such as Thuan Thi Sao, Duong Van Vuon, and Thuan Sapa, who have now returned to work in the local area.

The musicians played the ghinang drums in harmony with the baranung drums performed by Maduen Sam Tanh, while singing hymns praising the blessings of the gods at the Rija Harei ceremony.

With continuous efforts in preserving and promoting traditional cultural values, Binh Nghia village is gradually maintaining and developing the distinctive beauty of the Cham ethnic group. New Year rituals are not only an opportunity for community bonding, but also a testament to the maintenance and promotion of intangible cultural values, contributing to enriching the cultural identity of Vietnam.

Source: https://baodantoc.vn/di-san-van-hoa-o-lang-cham-binh-nghia-1746520550019.htm