Vietnam - Muslim Cham ethnic minority - Karoh (maturity) ceremony

In Van Lam village, Ninh Thuan province, Central Vietnam, Cham girls usually in groups of around 5, undergo a Karoh (maturity) ceremony, one of the most important ritual events of their lives and if it has not taken place, the girl cannot marry. After a purification ritual, the girls prepare for the main ceremony by dressing in a white dress and then putting on bronze, copper and sometimes gold jewellery. The girl's hair is brushed and put up into a bun. Afterwards each girl is given a traditional yellow robe and her head is covered with a red woven cloth and then the head priest places his hand on the girls head, recites a prayer and cuts a small lock of her hair. The Cham, a Muslim community of around 39,000 people living along the coast of Central Vietnam are one of the 54 ethnic groups recognised by the Vietnamese government.

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Copyright: Tessa Bunney
Image Size: 4000x2999 / 933.8KB; Tessa Bunney Southeast Asia Central Vietnam village Van Lam Ninh Thuan province Muslim Cham Islam Champa religion religious ethnic minority group ceremony maturity Karoh ritual event Karoeh girl white dress jewellery culture tradition traditional custom
Contained in galleries: Tessa Bunney - All pics, Vietnam Cham ethnic minority villages

In Van Lam village, Ninh Thuan province, Central Vietnam, Cham girls usually in groups of around 5, undergo a Karoh (maturity) ceremony, one of the most important ritual events of their lives and if it has not taken place, the girl cannot marry. After a purification ritual, the girls prepare for the main ceremony by dressing in a white dress and then putting on bronze, copper and sometimes gold jewellery. The girl's hair is brushed and put up into a bun. Afterwards each girl is given a traditional yellow robe and her head is covered with a red woven cloth and then the head priest places his hand on the girls head, recites a prayer and cuts a small lock of her hair. The Cham, a Muslim community of around 39,000 people living along the coast of Central Vietnam are one of the 54 ethnic groups recognised by the Vietnamese government.