Islamic Cham ethnic people in Binh Thuan Province on June 16 kicked off a wide range of activities to welcome their Ramuwan (New Year) festival, the biggest of its kind of the local Islamic community.

A ritual of the Islamic Cham ethnic people to pray for peace, happiness and bumper crops (Photo: VNA)

The festival always begins with a visit to ancestors’ graves and then each family holds ceremonies at home in commemoration of their ancestors.

People also go to pagodas to pray for peace, happiness and bumper crops.

Art and sport activities are also arranged in the framework of the event.

In recent years, the festival has drawn a great number of visitors and researchers both at home and abroad to explore the unique culture of the Islamic Cham community in Binh Thuan.

On the occasion, leaders from the provincial People’s Committee and the Viet Nam Fatherland Front visited and presented gifts to Cham ethnic people and wish local religious dignitaries a happy new year.

Binh Thuan province is home to 41,000 Cham ethnic people, of whom 15,000 are Muslims and the rest, Brahmins.

(Source: VNA)