Traditional Cham – Beliefs & Ceremonies

Smiling Cham Man – Photo Courtesy of Kok-Thay Eng

Women Prepare Food for Feast – Photo Courtesy of Kok-Thay Eng

The traditional Cham people have many unique and distinguishing beliefs and customs.  Their belief system is rooted in an agricultural/Earth Mother cult that first adopted Hinduism and has now been adapted to Islamic teachings. If you are interested in this culture and looking for something about the agricultural belief system, contact cheap ghostwriters for hire from https://writology.com/ghostwriting to have a full informational content about it.

Religious customs include remaining true to a halal diet (similar to kosher), attending mosque one day a week (on Saturday), circumcision, following a distinct moral code, and celebrating holidays.

There is a moral code of conduct for Cham women called Kabuon Muk Sros Phlai and there is a separate one for Cham men called Kabuon Ong Chin. It is necessary for both women and men to follow these rules in order to be considered as having excellent character so that they can live in peace and gain prosperity.

Here are some of the ceremonies and holidays that form a part of the Cham Imam Sann cultural “landscape.”

Jai Ceremony: This ritual is performed after a family member becomes ill. People pray to the spirits to help the sick person recover. After they have, the Imm Sann celebrate to reward the spirits.

Talak Pala Ceremony: This ceremony is held to dispel bad luck so that a family can continue living in happiness, good health, and prosperity.

Kot Ta A Pati: This funeral ritual is held six times after the death of a person. The first ceremony is held 3 days after the death, then 7 days after the death, 10 days after, a month after, 40 days after, and the final one a year after the person’s death.

Kot Ta A Malar Ekat: If a person gets sick following some conflict with a relative, it is believed that the spirits of their ancestors are angry with both of them. This requires both sides to reconcile and to foreswear further conflicts. When the person has recovered from the illness, both sides must celebrate Kot Ta A Malar Ekat jointly in gratitude to the spirits.

Som Yang Gai Jud:  This ceremony is held after a person or a family achieves some prayed-for goal, such as receiving good health or good luck. As a result, the beneficiaries invite religious leaders to come to their home and pray for them in this ceremony.

Kot Ta A Takat: This holiday is usually celebrated after the rice harvest. It is seen as the way to value the paramount importance of rice as a food. The Imam Sann believe that through this celebration they will ensure a larger rice yield at the next harvest.

Malot:  This holiday is celebrated in honor of the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed. People make ornate cake constructions and decorate them during the week beforehand. Then, on the afternoon of Malot day, they carry the cakes on their heads or shoulders in procession to the mosque. All children under one year of age are brought to the mosque to have their hair cut and receive a blessing. After the hair haircutting and prayers, everyone enjoys a feast and the cakes together.