AThe New Zealand Herald on August 4 published an article written by Indian writer Ankita Mahabir, highlighting five immersive encounters that offered her a rare and profound glimpse into Vietnam’s living Cham culture.
A Cham woman shapes terracotta entirely by hand in Bau Truc pottery village
From traditional weaving villages to sacred blessings, Mahabir explored the rich heritage of the Cham people, an ethnic group in Vietnam that follows three distinct spiritual paths - Cham Balamon, Cham Bani, and Cham Islam. Each path features unique customs, rituals, and festivals.
Tucked away in a modest building in Phan Rang–Thap Cham, the Cham Museum might not boast size but it brims with pride. Those seeking a deeper understanding of Cham culture will find this museum to be a great starting point.
Cham weavings carry symbolic meanings tied to the cosmos and ancient rituals. That's the reason why tourists should not miss visiting My Nghiep village where each pattern on the cloth tells a story of harvests, ancient deities and cosmic beliefs.
During the Indian writer's trip to Bau Truc, one of Southeast Asia’s oldest continuously operating pottery villages, she was extremely excited at seeing Cham women shaping terracotta entirely by hand.
Her next destination is the Po Klong Garai Temple complex which is among the best-preserved Cham monuments. Built in the 13th century to honour King Po Klong Garai, the red sandstone towers, linga-yoni shrines, and carved reliefs give glimpses of a time when the Champa Kingdom thrived.
One of the moments that the Indian writer considers the most valuable time in her journey was to receive a blessing from a Cham master.
To the haunting tones of sacred instruments, his voice rose in song, a delicate weave of animist, Hindu, and Islamic influences. The experience was not performative but deeply reverent, an invitation, however brief, into a world few outsiders ever glimpse, she shared.