Unique New Year's prayer ceremony of Cham people

From early morning, the family of Mrs. Truong Thi Linh (Phuoc Hai commune, Ninh Phuoc district, Ninh Thuan province) with 15 members was present at the special national relic site of Po Nagar Tower to perform a prayer ceremony for peace on the occasion of the New Year. The family members all wore the newest and most beautiful traditional costumes. After finding a suitable location, each family member joined hands to prepare the offerings. Notably, the offerings on the offering tray were arranged in pairs to represent the harmony of yin and yang. When the shaman arrived, after reviewing the offerings, the shaman asked the names of each family member and began the ceremony. On behalf of the family, the shaman expressed to the sacred gods the wishes for national peace and prosperity, favorable weather, good crops, good health, a stable family, harmony between husband and wife, siblings, and children. The ceremony ended when the last family member was named. After that, everyone in the family shared the offerings and enjoyed the blessings right there. “We villagers have just finished the ceremony to drive away bad luck and welcome good luck for the villagers, now we go to the towers to perform the ceremony to pray for peace for our families. This New Year's ceremony coincides with the 50th anniversary of the country's reunification, so we are even happier, more excited and organize a bigger ceremony,” said Ms. Truong Thi Linh.

Cham people bring offerings to the Po Nagar Tower National Special Relic Site to pray for peace at the beginning of the new year.

The Cham people's New Year's Prayer Ceremony is an activity during the Rija Festival, which usually lasts about 2 weeks. During the Rija Festival, the Rija Nagar (also known as Rija Nugar - Rija Xu So) is the biggest one organized by the village community. During this ceremony, villages organize solemn worship activities with the meaning of getting rid of bad things and bad luck in the old year and welcoming good things in the new year. Through this, people also express their gratitude to those who founded the village, who have contributed to the village, and remember their ancestors and the origin of the nation. Along with the ceremony, the villages also organize special traditional art performances to increase the joyful atmosphere at the beginning of the year. After the village worships, families in the village take turns going to the temples in Ninh Thuan province and neighboring localities to perform the New Year's Prayer Ceremony for their families. One of the places chosen by the Cham people to visit on this occasion is the Po Nagar Towers National Special Relic Site, where the goddess Po Inư Nagar - Mother of the Cham people's land - is worshiped, along with a number of other gods according to the Cham people's beliefs. After worshiping at the temples, each Cham family returns to their home to worship and conclude the days of welcoming the new year according to the Cham calendar.

A shaman performs a ritual to pray for peace for a Cham family.

Although the Rija festival is not generally called Tet like the Kate festival and the Ramuwan festival, it is also an important festival of the Cham community that takes place at the time of the change of seasons, between the rainy season and the dry season. According to Mr. Dang Xuan Ky - a dignitary and prestigious person among the Cham people, each time the New Year's worship ceremony is a sign of the change of weather and climate. This is very important for the agricultural production of the Cham people, so people attach great importance to this festival and worship sincerely to pray for the gods to grant peace to the country, peace and happiness to the villages, favorable weather, good crops, happy families... The New Year's worship ceremony from the Rija Nugar festival in the villages to the peace-praying ceremonies of the families all have a very high community character and demonstrate many cultural values of the Cham people. Through these holidays, community values are actively promoted, connecting the feelings of the villages, and the spirit of mutual love.