For Vietnamese, wedding is one of three most important things to do all one’s life. Because of the diversify in culture of 54 different ethnic minority groups inhabiting Vietnam, wedding ceremonies are also held differently in different ethnic groups. And Cham people is one of Vietnam ethnic groups have wedding ceremonies held in a special way.
When the final day of the Ramadan festival ends (in mid-October), you will see only women, men and children on the paths of a Cham village in An Giang. Cham girls aged 12 and 13 are kept at home. Gusts of autumn wind and the rain in this province on the southeast border bring me a torrent of indescribable emotion. Laughter and congratulations echo from somewhere, giving notice that the wedding season has arrived.
The Cham people in An Giang live mainly in Tan Chau, Phu Tan and An Phu districts in Chau Doc city, along the banks of the Chau Giang river, the second biggest town at the headwaters of the Hau river. The Cham people live and work under the creed of Islam, which is best shown in their wedding customs.
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Strangers are very rarely invited to a Cham wedding. A wedding of the Cham people in An Giang lasts for three days. The bride and groom decorate their house on the first day. The rituals to prepare the groom and the bride to enter family life are held on the second day. The third day is the most important. The wedding is held in the mosque and the groom goes to the bride’s house.
The tea ceremony and singing performances last until 1 a.m., and in the early morning all the people in the groom’s party are present to attend the ceremony. At 6 a.m., everyone, all dressed in formal costume, accompany the groom in traditional Cham costume to the mosque. There are only men (women are not allowed in the mosque) and three children carrying three boxes. In the boxes are betel, areca and lime in the first box, rice and salt in the second box, cakes and fruit in the third box. The groom is shaded from the sun with a colorful parasol over his head. Villagers rush to attend the ceremony and noisily discuss it. The groom is taken to the mosque on foot, not by motorbike or by car.
On the way to the mosque, flutes or drums are played and people sing together. On arrival at the mosque the groom sits opposite to the bride’s father. There are two elders, who lead a very moral life, who witness the ceremony. An imam reads from the Koran, telling the groom about the responsibilities of a husband under Islamic regulations. Then the bride’s father shakes the groom’s hand and says: “I marry my daughter, Mahriem to you, Sarol, with I tael of gold and 5 million”. After that everyone prays for the good health and happiness of the couple. The ceremony lasts for only about 15 minutes in the mosque.