Локальные особенности проведения фестиваля Рамуван среди вьетнамской религиозной группы чам бани

2.2.2. Unofficial ancestor worship (Da-a laba)

While the people perform the burial ceremony in the cemetery, some of the women who prepare offerings to the spirits of their ancestors invite the gods to enjoy the holiday at their home. Depending on the economic conditions of each family, offerings of the unofficial ancestor worship are simple or numerous. In the villages in the area of the ancient cemetery - Darak Anaih (the villages of An Nhon, Phuoc Nhon, Luong Tri), the offerings in the temporary worship ceremony are richer, including foods, fruit cakes, and wine. In the area of Bani people in the villages of Ninh Phuoc district in the area of Dil ancient cemetery (Son Hai), temporary offerings are quite simple, only 2 plates of salad (laba), grilled rice paper and a little wine.

The person performing the ceremony is an elderly man in the family. Unlike the Acar dignitaries who worship the Qu’ran in Arabic, in the ceremony in their families and clans, the worshipers pray in Cham language.

2.2.3. Official Ancestor Worship (Pambăng Muk Kei)

The official ancestor worshiping ceremony is held after the unofficial. The celebrant, who is an Acar dignitary chosen from the family line, must be familiar with the Koran (Qu’ran) and in the manner of the ceremony. Acar's vestment is a long robe (Aw lah or aw loak), dressed underneath in a white skirt, and a red tasseled white scarf on his head (Akhan mbrăm taibi), he sits cross-legged on a mat (ciêw bang) to worship.

In the official worshiping ceremony, each turn of offerings to an ancestral spirit consists of two trays of offerings: a salty tray and a sweet one which stand for the two elements yin and yang in the culinary concept of the Cham people. The sweet tray is offered first, consists of 2 cups of tea, traditional cakes of the Cham people such as tet don cake (paynung), it cake, gan tay cake (sakaya), ginger root cake (ganraong laya). The salty tray includes plain rice, dishes such as vegetable soup, fish, meat, eggs, wine and beer. Offerings are served on a high-legged offering tray (salaw takai) lined with banana leaves. After each turn of offerings to each spirit, the celebrant burns a piece of incense and chants a sutra, then continues to make offerings to other spirits so that relatives in heaven are invited to enjoy the offerings on Ramuwan's day.