Modern Vietnam's Ba La Mon are Vedic

[Guest guest]

The Cham is one of the 54 ethic groups in Vietnam, comprising about

133,000 people who live mainly in the central and southern regions of

Vietnam. The Cham has many clans: Cham-Ba La Mon (Brahmanism), Cham-

Hroi (Cham-Ba Ni) and Cham-Islam. Besides the indigenous religion,

the Cham also follow Islam and Brahmanism. They live in separate

villages but preserve and practice their diverse range of customs and

rituals.

 

 

THE OPENING OF THE TOWER DOOR :

 

After the welcome of clothes is ended, clergymen ask permission

of Siva Deity to hold the ceremony of openning the tower door. This

festival is taken place in front of the tower door and managed by

the oldest bonze (Po Dhia) and the tower keeper (Ccamuney).

Offerings include: wine, eggs, betel and areca, bath water mixed aloe

wood and another tastes. In the solemn atmosphere, the magician sings

to pray Deities.

 

After saying the prayers, Camunay holds the vase of bath water

to splash into Siva statue being in the main hard palate. After that,

Kanhi (the person who plays a musical instrument) and Ba Bong

approach to the main door, sit by Nadin cow statue and sing a song

of asking for opening the tower door.

 

When the song is ended, people come in to the tower, Ba Bong

and The tower keeper begin to open the tower door.

 

THE BATH OF STATUE :

 

The bath of Statue is taken place inside the tower. In the

ceremony, there are attendance of the oldest bonze, Kanhi , the tower

keeper and some believers. When all of them sit by a table, around

the altar, Ba Bong pours out the wine to offer the ceremony. Kanhi

sings along with her. The tower keeper holds the water vase to bathe

the stone statue with everyone. At this moment, believers take water

from the statue to apply on their heads, bodies to implore for

health, good fortune and luck.

 

THE DRESSING OF STATUE :

 

The ceremony of dressing Statue is started after the bath of

Statue. It is carried out along the hymn of Kanhi.When Kanhi sings,

the tower keeper and Ba Bong dress Statue until the hymn ended.

 

THE GREAT FESTIVAL :

After the dressing of Statue is finished, the great festival is

started. At this moment, the Statue is worn a luxurious royal mantal

and offerings are displayed in front of the altar.The oldest bonze of

Ba La Mon sect manages rituals, Ba Bong offers the offerings, Kanhi

sings to invite Deities who deserved well of people to attend the

ceremony such as : Po Nugar, Poklong Garai, Porome, Po Par…Ba Bong

offers each Deity offerings. Kanhi sings a hymn and people implore

Deities for helping and support them. Kanhi sings to invite over 30

Deities by over 30 songs. The oldest bonze uses magic and prays

Deities for helping and support people. The great festival is ended

by a dance of Ba Bong.

 

THE FESTIVAL :

While Ba Bong is performing the holy dance in the tower to

finish the great festival, the festival is begun in outside, Ghinang

drum – beat and Sanarai wind instrument resound and keep pace with

Cham dances and songs attracting men's heart. The festival's

atmosphere is noisy and busy till the afternoon .The festival is

ended.

 

THE KATE FESTIVAL IN VILLAGES

 

After the Kate Festival in the towers is finished , the Kate is

taken place in Cham villages. Last days, villagers cleaned up

temples, villages' Houses…and prepared stages and yards…Villages are

undergone a great change. At the same time, another people prepared

offerings to worship Deities. Weavers of My Nghiep village carefully

checked looms, textiles. Some people prepared Chum (Buk) to attend

contest of carrying water on head.

 

In the morning of the festival day, everyone hold Kate worship

in village House to implore Deities for supporting villagers. Each

Cham village worships a private Deity. My Nghiep village worships Po

Riayk, Huu Duc village worships Po Klong Halau…In the worship,

officiating priest is not religious dignitary; he's usually village

master (Po Paley) or village patriarch who has prestige and masters

of customs. He offers Deities offerings and implores them for helping

and supporting villagers.

 

If the Kate in the towers is important in holding rites, the

Kate in villages is very simple. The festival of My Nghiep village

consists of contests as : weaving, carrying water on head, playing

football, singing…

 

The contest is proceeded in a large ground. Looms are arranged

in lines. Girls have prepared textiles. In over an hour, if any girl

weaves a biggest and most beautiful piece of cloth, she'll win.

Shuttles hurrily running and colourful threads spreading create a

Cham piece of cloth with many colours. Contest of carrying water on

head is noisily taken place in another place.

 

The contest is ended. The village festival is also little by

little closed. People joyfully turn back home to worship family

ancestors.

 

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