The Muslim Cham people clean and decorate ancestral graves. Photo: CAO

Central Binh Thuan province is famous for cactus trees, white sand dunes and the special cultural identities of Cham people, especially the Ramuwan New Year festival of the Islamic Cham which will take place from July 7-9 this year.

As the biggest festival of the Islamic community in the province, they gather with relatives to pay respect to their ancestors and pray for happiness, bumper crops and peace.

The celebration features traditional rituals and activities such as worshipping ceremonies and cleaning and decorating ancestral graves.

In the joyful atmosphere, the Muslim Cham people will perform folk songs and dances while engaging in a range of traditional games.

Recently, the festival has seen the participation of Kinh friends and researchers both at home and abroad who want to explore special cultural identities of Islamic Cham people.

The Ninh Thuan People’s Committee has instructed cities and districts to partner with the provincial Fatherland Front Central Committee and organisations to create favourable conditions for the organisation of the festival.

On this occasion, provincial leaders visited representatives of the Islamic Cham Community and outstanding dignitaries, and toured a number of pagodas and mosques in the province.

The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has worked with localities to organise cultural and sporting activities within the framework of the festival.

Source: VNA