Vice Chairman of the Binh Thuan provincial People's Committee Le Tuan Phong (R) presents a gift to dignitaries of a mosque on May 14 ahead of the Cham Bani people on the occasion of Cham Bani people’s traditional Ramuwan festival (Photo: VNA) Binh Thuan (VNA) – Leaders of the central provinceof Binh Thuan on May 14 visited a local community of Cham Bani people on theoccasion of the community’s traditional Ramuwan festival.
During their visits to Bac Binh, Tuy Phong, and Ham ThuanBac districts, provincial leaders wished the Muslim community a happy and warmfestival.
Acknowledging the ethnic group’s contributions to great nationalunity and local socio-economic development, they hoped that dignitaries and theentire community will continue promoting their valuable traditions, supportingeach other in reducing poverty and participating in new-style rural areabuilding programmes in their localities.
On behalf of the group, Cham Bani dignitaries expressedtheir gratitude for the support of local authorities for Cham Muslims’celebration of Ramuwan festival.
They said they hope to receive more assistance fromprovincial authorities for the community’s business development.
Like the Kinh community during the Tet (Lunar New Year)holiday, the Cham Bani use the Ramuwan festival as an opportunity to visit homeand gather with their families to pay tribute to their ancestors and pray forhappiness, bumper crops, and peace.
The festival begins with a visit to ancestral cemeteries,during which Cham Bani families go to cemeteries to cleanse and decorate thegraves and invite their ancestors back home for Ramuwan.
Others rituals held during this period are the Va Hafestival, ancestor worshipping at home, and the Ramadan month when many Muslimsdo not eat or drink between sunrise and sunset.
Binh Thuan is currently home to 41,000 ethnic Cham people,including more than 15,000 Muslims or the Cham Bani.–VNA
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