Contributing to Vietnam's distinct Cham culture, not to mention the Cham people's serious and profound holidays. One of them is the Palau Sah - Rain Festival of Cham People, a major celebration associated with agriculture, the Cham people's main economic activity.

Palau Sah - Rain Festival

On May 16 (Lunar Calendar), the Palau Sah - Rain Festival of Cham People is held in the Champa Towers and estuaries of Ninh Thuan such as My Tan, Lam Ngu, and Ca Na. This celebration is frequently led by Cham shamans or officials, with the main goal of honoring Cham agricultural gods and asking for rain and bountiful crops. Rain Festival is composed of four primary little ceremonies.

Rija Harei (Day Dancing Rite)

This ceremony is held in a bamboo ceremonial house that is roofed with thatch or canvas and faces the setting sun. 1 chicken, 5 trays of rice (each tray contains rice, fish soup, and dried fish), 3 trays of bananas, two trays of betel, wine, eggs... and 5 raspberries of sweet gruel and sticky rice are among the offerings.

The first ritual is Rija Harei, also known as The Day Dance Ritual

Muduon (the instructor who beats the Paranung drum) and Kain execute the ritual (drummer). Muduon bangs the Paranung drum to summon gods such as the deity of the mountains (Po Cok), the god of rivers and the sea (Po Riyak), the god of rowing (Po tang ahuak), the god who keeps the agarwood (Po gilau), and notably the gods of irrigation such as Po KLong Garai, Po Ro Me... Kain danced to the drums of Ginang, Paranung, and Saranai Cham trumpet as Muduon has sung biographies extolling the qualities of the gods. Villages came to pray, worship, and dance in celebration of the ritual.

Rija Dayuap (Night Worship Rite)

This ceremony is conducted at twilight or at night by Kadhar (lute player Rabap) and medium (Muk Pajau). This ceremony has the participation of monk Po Acar of the Cham Awal group. Offerings include 1 goat, 5 trays of rice, sweet gruel and sticky rice, betel nut and areca, wine, egg, fruitcake,… Kadhar sings to the gods like Po Au Loah, Po Bal Gina, Po Cah ya, and Po Cah ya, motherland god (Po Inu Nugar), Po KLong Garai, Po Ro Me (Cham King is venerated as the god of irrigation), mountain god (Po Cok), river god (Po Patau Ia), sea god (Yang tasik),… Kadhar sang while the medium danced as accompaniment.

The second ritual is known as Rija Dayuap, or The Night Worship Rite

Cuh Yang Apui (Fire God)

This ritual is performed by the paseh priest. This is a ritual to worship the Cham gods at the temple tower (yang Bimon), especially the fire god (yang apui) to pray to the fire god to bring fire to make lightning, clouds, rain,... The content of this ceremony is similar to the ritual Burn the fire god at the Cham tower.

Cuh Yang Apui is the third little rite done to pray to and exhort Yang Apui

Gay Bhong

This rite is performed by a group of Cham monks Awal. This ceremony is very solemn, Po Acar and the villagers carry the magic stick (Gay bhong) - the holy stick preaching the scriptures of Saint Mohamach from the mosque to the river mouth, the sea mouth to pray for rain. This ritual is similar to the Ramuwan Cham Awal festival. The offerings include 5 raspberries and bananas. Monk Po Acar recited the Koran, prayed to Saint Alla (Pamr) to enjoy the ceremony, offered prayers to the village, and prayed to Saint Alla to be effective, to give the villagers favorable rain and wind, and good crops.

The last ceremony is led by Islam Cham shamans who address God Allah

Festivals relating to Palau Sah

In addition to the Palau Sah - Rain Festival of Cham People as above, in April of the Cham calendar, each Cham village also organizes its rain festival, mainly praying to Po Nai (Cham Queen) and Po Riyak (god of the sea waves) worshiping ceremony, etc. This ceremony is similar to the Day Dancing Rite (Rija harei) performed by Maduon and Ka-in. These festivals attract the villagers to participate jubilantly, becoming the festival of the Cham palei (villages and hamlets).

After the rain festival, it often rains, the villagers break the plowing land and sow seeds in the fields and upland fields. But worrying about heavy rain causing flooding, when it rains after the rain festival, the Cham people also hold a "ceremony to block the water source" (Kap Kruang). This ceremony is carried out at the mouth of large rivers such as Hinh River (Phu Yen), Cai River (Nha Trang), Dinh River (Phan Rang),... The ceremony takes place in both the Cham Ahier and Awal communities with formal rituals. They recited the Koran and prayed to Allah to not let the rain flood so much, causing floods to destroy crops, houses, and villages. At the end of the ceremony, all the naked Po Acars wade into the river to perform the "splash water".

Cham people frequently plan Kap Kruang after Palau Sah

Palau Sah - Rain Festival of Cham people is very important. Almost every year it will be held over several days. The festival shows the unique Cham tower culture, which is also a belief and custom that is preserved and worshiped by the Cham people to this day. Travel to Vietnam to experience this diversity!