Ninh Thuan, a land of sunshine and wind in Central Vietnam, is not only famous for its pristine beaches and vast sand dunes, but also as a place that preserves the vibrant Cham Pa culture. This unique culture, with a history of thousands of years, has left a deep mark on Ninh Thuan through ancient temples and towers, graceful dances, and distinctive customs, creating a colorful cultural picture that attracts visitors from all over.
Cham Architecture in Ninh Thuan: Timeless Imprints on Fired Brick
Speaking of Cham culture in Ninh Thuan, one cannot ignore the temple and tower architecture, a powerful testament to the creativity and masterful construction techniques of the ancient Cham people. These majestic towers, having weathered historical ups and downs, still stand proudly in Ninh Thuan, telling future generations the story of a powerful Cham Pa kingdom.
Among the Cham architectural relics in Ninh Thuan, the most prominent is Po Klong Garai Tower, located on Trau Hill, about 7km from Phan Rang – Thap Cham city. Built in the late 13th century, Po Klong Garai Tower is a unique architectural complex consisting of three main towers: the Gate Tower, the Fire Tower, and the Main Tower, each with its own beauty and meaning. The characteristic red-burnt brick color, along with the intricate carvings on the tower body, creates an architectural work that is both ancient and magnificent, captivating every gaze.
Po Klong Garai Tower stands majestic and imposing with its characteristic brick-red color
Besides Po Klong Garai, Ninh Thuan also possesses many other ancient Cham tower clusters such as Hoa Lai Tower and Po Rome Tower, each structure bearing a unique architectural style and historical value. Cham towers are often built on high hills, facing East – the direction of the gods, reflecting the beliefs and cosmology of the Cham people. To this day, the construction techniques and mysterious binding agent of Cham bricks remain an enigma to researchers, further enhancing the mystery and allure of these architectural wonders.
Cham Sculpture: Exquisite Art on Sandstone
Along with architecture, sculpture is also a flourishing art form in Cham culture. Deeply influenced by Indian culture, Cham sculpture art bears strong imprints of Hindu and Buddhist religions. Cham sculptures are often expressed in sandstone, with the main themes being gods, mascots, and Apsara dancers.
To fully appreciate the beauty of Cham sculpture art, visitors can visit the Museum of Cham Sculpture in Da Nang (also known as the Cham Museum). This place preserves and displays the world’s largest collection of Cham sculptures, with about 2000 artifacts dating from the 7th to the 15th centuries, collected from all over ancient Champa, from Quang Tri to Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan.
Among the typical artifacts at the museum, notable works include Apsara dancer statues, Vishnu reliefs, Sarasvati reliefs, Skanda statues, and more. Each piece is an artistic masterpiece, demonstrating sophistication and meticulousness in every carved line, while also containing profound cultural and spiritual values. Although not directly located in Ninh Thuan, the Museum of Cham Sculpture is still an important destination to better understand Cham sculpture art, an indispensable part of Cham culture in Ninh Thuan.
Kate Festival: A Harmony of Spiritual Culture
The Kate Festival is one of the largest and most important traditional festivals of the Cham Balamon people, usually held in the 7th month of the Cham calendar (around September or October in the Gregorian calendar). This is an occasion for the Cham people to commemorate gods and ancestors, praying for favorable weather, bountiful harvests, and peaceful life.
The Kate Festival takes place in a solemn, sacred, yet equally vibrant and bustling atmosphere. The festival is held at Cham temples and towers, with many unique traditional rituals, imbued with Cham Pa cultural identity. The ritual part includes ceremonies such as the procession of the robes of the goddess Po Inu Nagar, the statue bathing ceremony, the dressing ceremony for the gods, and the offering of sacrifices.
Through music and dance, we can once again affirm the cultural diversity of the Cham people
The festival part of the Kate Festival is an opportunity for locals and visitors to immerse themselves in the Cham cultural space through traditional dances such as Apsara dance, Siva dance, fire dance, along with the vibrant music of Ginang drums, Paranung drums, and Saranai horns. The Kate Festival is not only a religious activity but also a unique cultural event, attracting many tourists to Ninh Thuan to experience and discover Cham culture.
Cham Music and Dance: The Quintessence of Performing Arts
Music and dance play an important role in the spiritual and cultural life of the Cham people. Cham music is imbued with the echoes of mountains and forests and the sea, with deep, haunting melodies, expressing the soul and worldview of the Cham people. Traditional Cham musical instruments are very diverse, including percussion (Ginang drums, Paranung drums, gongs, thanh la), wind instruments (Saranai horn, flute), and string instruments (Kanhi lute, Rabap lute).
Cham dance is also a unique art form, often associated with religious rituals and traditional festivals. Cham dances are graceful and soft, expressing respect for the gods and aspirations for a beautiful life. The Apsara dance, imitating the dance of the goddess Siva, is considered the most beautiful and unique dance of the Cham people, with delicate and graceful movements of hands, feet, and body, like celestial nymphs descending to earth.
Cham music and dance are not only forms of entertainment, but also a means to transmit the cultural, historical, and spiritual values of the Cham people from one generation to the next. When visiting Ninh Thuan, tourists can enjoy Cham music and dance through traditional art performances, or directly participate in festivals, to deeply feel the beauty and uniqueness of Cham culture.
Ninh Thuan: Cradle of Cham Culture Preservation
Ninh Thuan is considered one of the most important centers for preserving Cham culture in Vietnam. Despite experiencing many historical upheavals and cultural exchanges, the Cham people in Ninh Thuan still preserve and promote many precious traditional cultural values, from architecture, sculpture, music, dance, festivals, to handicrafts and customs.
In recent years, the government and people of Ninh Thuan have made many efforts to preserve and promote Cham culture. Cham historical and cultural relics have been restored and embellished, traditional festivals have been revived and maintained, and traditional handicraft villages such as Bau Truc pottery and My Nghiep weaving have received attention for development.
This place is where many precious heritages of Cham culture are still preserved
Ninh Thuan also focuses on developing cultural tourism, associated with the preservation and promotion of Cham cultural heritage values. Tourists coming to Ninh Thuan not only admire ancient temples and towers, participate in the Kate Festival, but also have the opportunity to learn about the cultural life and customs of the Cham people, enjoy unique cuisine, and shop for traditional handicrafts.
Cham Cuisine in Ninh Thuan: Unique Flavors from the Sea and Land
Cham culture in Ninh Thuan is not only expressed through architecture, art, and festivals, but also clearly reflected in cuisine. Cham cuisine in Ninh Thuan bears the distinctive flavors of the Central Coast region, with a harmonious combination of ingredients from the sea and land.
Cham dishes often use many characteristic spices such as chili, lemongrass, turmeric, and galangal, creating a rich, spicy, and unforgettable flavor. Some specialties of the Cham people in Ninh Thuan include: Cham chicken rice, bun mam nem (fermented fish noodle soup), banh can (small savory pancakes), banh xeo (crispy pancake), goi ca mai (mahimahi salad), lau mam (fermented fish hotpot), and more.
Ingredients for Cham dishes are often fresh and carefully selected from local products such as fresh seafood, livestock, poultry, vegetables, and fruits. Cooking methods are also very diverse, from grilling, steaming, stir-frying, and stewing, to salads and rolls, each dish with its own flavor and way of enjoying. Enjoying Cham cuisine in Ninh Thuan is an interesting cultural experience, helping visitors understand more about the life and customs of the local people.
Conclusion
Cham culture in Ninh Thuan is a priceless treasure of heritage that needs to be cherished, preserved, and promoted. A journey to discover Cham culture in Ninh Thuan will bring visitors unique and profound experiences, helping them better understand the history, culture, and people of this land. Come to Ninh Thuan to admire the beauty of ancient temples and towers, immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the Kate Festival, enjoy Cham music and dance, and explore unique cuisine, to fully feel the charm of thousand-year-old Cham Pa culture.