Trays of offerings are covered when brought into the mosque. (Photo: Doan Si/VOV–Ho Chi Minh City)

When three drumbeats resound from the mosque, Cham girls balancing ceremonial offering trays on their heads enter the mosque. The roads leading to the mosque are crowded with people wearing colorful traditional costumes. Inside the mosque, religious dignitaries are ready to perform the rituals, while outside, hundreds of people are gathered in prayer.

“Today is a joyful day for the Cham. We deeply respect our traditional religious festivals. People from everywhere, regardless of religion, gather together to celebrate,” Ba Thi Hieu of Binh Thang village said.

In the Cham language, Suk Yung means “rotating Friday.” It is often described as a “rotating congregational prayer” because the annual celebration rotates among mosques in different villages. During these days, every family prepares food and drinks to welcome relatives and guests.

Cham women in traditional attire gather in the mosque. (Photo: Doan Si/VOV–Ho Chi Minh City)

Lam Minh Doan of Binh Hoa village told us that, although their daily lives were disrupted by recent floods, people from other villages still came to celebrate Suk Yung with the Binh Hoa community. “Of the six Cham Bani villages here, Binh Hoa is the one hosting this year’s Suk Yung Festival. All Cham people, including those not of the Cham Bani faith, have gathered here. As the hosts, we warmly welcome everyone.”

Imum Tal, a Cham religious dignitary in Binh Minh village, said this year’s festival also conferred on two clerics the religious titles of Khotip and Imum. These new clerics preside over all the ceremonies of the Ramuwan ritual.

Cham religious dignitaries meet inside the mosque. (Photo: Doan Si/VOV–Ho Chi Minh City)

“The Ramuwan ritual is held as part of the Suk Yung Festival to show respect to our ancestors. Each family brings a tray of offerings to the mosque. Only if our ancestors are properly honored will they continue to bless the community with good health and prosperity,” said Imum Tal.

Rotating the Suk Yung Festival creates opportunities for young people from different Cham villages to get to know each other, fostering community cohesion and harmoniously connecting the two Cham religions.