History» Champa
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Costumes of The Cam Community in Central VietnamAttire of the Cam Ahiar and Cam Bani DignitariesOther than the two major groups of dignitaries, the cam Ahiar or Cam Bani community in Central Vietnam also has other groups of dignitaries responsible in conducting local rituals. There are eight of them namely Ong ka-ing, Ong Banak, Ong Danaok, Muk Pajaw, Muk Buh, Ong Maduan and Muk Rija. Each have their own attire bassed on their social role and status.Ong Ka-ing conducts the Rija Nagar (national danse) ceremony by dancing on smouldering ash. The cermony marks the cictory of past Champa kings and is celebrated by the villages on the first day of the Campa calender. Ong Banak is appointed by the farmers to take care of the dam besides conductiong ceremonies related to it. Ong Danaok is a divisional or village representative who attends to ceremonies held by the villagers. Ong Danaok's attire does not differ much from that of Ong Banak. Muk Pajaw is a woman dignitary appointed by the community to be its religious leader. She conducts ceremonies related to local beliefs. Muk Pajaw is not allowed to marry. Muk Buh is a woman appointed to take care of preparations like food, betel leaf, betelnut and flourers in any ceremony. Finally, Ong Maduan is the person who conducts the Rija or Raja ceremony which is similar to the Mak Yong in Kelantan. He is also the head of the orchestra of rebana players, besides narrationg the tale of the prince Jinyang from kelantan who married the Champa princess. This ceremony is conducted in classical Malay whil the woman dancer who performs the Rija is called Muk Rija. |
Muk Buh Ahiar, Cam Ahiar's woman involnes in the preparation of the ceremony. |
Cam Bani's Muk Buh, Cam Bani's women work to prepare for the perfomance. |
Ong Ka-ing, who dances on smouldering ash during the Rija Nagar (national danse). |
Aw Patra, worn by Muk Rija during the Rija ceremony. |
France: Jabatan Muzium dan Antikuiti., Copyright 1998, pg. 40-45.