In the process of integration and development, the Cham people still retain their own cultural identity, including traditional occupations and traditional craft villages that still exist and develop.
 |
| Ms. Phatymah (Chau Giang hamlet, Chau Phong commune, Tan Chau town, An Giang province) introduces products of the Cham ethnic group to tourists. (Photo: Phuong Nghi) |
Since the age of 14, Ms. Phatymah (Chau Giang hamlet, Chau Phong commune, Tan Chau town) has been taught the traditional embroidery craft of her people by her mother. For more than 40 years of being attached to the craft, through the ups and downs of the years, she has still diligently taught her children and grandchildren in the family and in the neighborhood to preserve the beauty of this tradition for generations.
Ms. Phatymah shared: “Almost every Cham girl, when growing up, is taught the skills of embroidery, weaving, and baking by her grandmother or mother. These are the criteria to evaluate the dexterity and talent of women when they reach the age of marriage…”
No longer in stock as before, but the embroidery products of Cham women in Chau Phong are still chosen by many people at home and abroad. Perhaps, it is not diverse in designs and colors, but people love it because all the patterns, even the smallest ones, are made by hand. The craftsman must count each thread of the scarf, then draw vertical and diagonal lines evenly. Wearing a white mas-pok scarf on the head, with a few simple patterns, but when combined with clothes, it helps Cham women look more luxurious and beautiful when attending weddings and festivals. Currently, because it is a high-end product, the mas-pok scarf is mainly for export, depending on the skill of each person, it takes from 10 to 15 days to complete. That is because it has to go through many stages, from embroidering the scarf's base, patterns and the most elaborate is the border.
“Nowadays, most of the scarves are made to order, so the patterns on the scarves are available. There are many lines, but for those in the profession, just a quick glance is enough to remember them. In the past, you just had to say what kind of scarf you liked, and the craftsman would create and add more lines and patterns to create a beautiful scarf…”, said Ms. Phatymah.
 |
| The mas-pok scarf helps Cham women look more elegant and beautiful when attending weddings and festivals. (Photo: Phuong Nghi) |
Saphynah (youngest daughter of artisan Mohamad - Owner of Mohamad Cham brocade weaving facility) in Phum Soai hamlet, Chau Phong commune (Tan Chau town, An Giang province), after many years of studying and working abroad, decided to return to her hometown to develop the traditional brocade weaving profession with her family.
Ms. Saphynah said: “In the past, making a product was very hard for my parents, because it was completely handmade, but the income was very low, unstable, and difficult to sell, so I absolutely did not want to pursue this profession. However, after many times returning home, meeting, exchanging, and introducing traditional products to friends and domestic and foreign tourists, I had a different mindset. From here, the sense of responsibility to continue my ancestors' profession, contributing to the community to preserve traditional crafts has constantly urged me.”
Currently, she and her family have set up weaving looms right at the facility, ready to demonstrate to visitors the stages of completing a scarf or brocade product. The rest are placed at local people's homes for processing. Because these are handmade products, she can only sell a few hundred to 1,000 products each month, and her income after deducting expenses is not much. However, Ms. Saphynah is still determined to pursue her career, because tourists, especially foreign visitors, appreciate the handmade products of her family and villagers.
 |
| Cham girl Hua Thi Rokya in Phum Xoai hamlet, Chau Phong commune promotes Tung lo mo ANAS at the OCOP and specialty product festival in Chau Doc city, An Giang province. (Photo: Phuong Nghi) |
Like Saphynah, Cham girl Hua Thi Rokya in Phum Xoai hamlet, Chau Phong commune (Tan Chau town, An Giang province), daughter of Mr. Hua Hoang Vu (in Cham language, Salech) - owner of Tung lo mo ANAS, after graduating from university and having a stable life in Ho Chi Minh City, also returned to her hometown to start a business with her family's traditional profession. Since her childhood, Rokya has followed her father to fairs selling Tung lo mo (beef sausage), a product that has long been famous in the Cham Islam community in An Giang, attracting many diners from far away, hoping to try the unique flavor of this dish.
Thinking that this is a potential product and is popular with many people, she is determined to travel from the South to the North, from the country to Southeast Asian countries. As long as there is an opportunity to promote the product, she does not hesitate to participate. To ensure food hygiene and safety while maintaining the quality of traditional products, she has researched and invested in machinery to increase production, and at the same time perfected the stages to produce products that are almost original to traditional products.
Thanks to that, each month the family business produces an average of 1,000 to 1,200 kg of finished products. In addition, to enhance the value of the products and promote Cham culture to more people, she has boldly connected with tourist tours to visit and experience Cham culinary culture at the business.
"I am launching some new products to enrich the dishes, so that Muslims have more choices. Although I have traveled to many places, I am very passionate about the cuisine of my people. It urges me to research and learn to preserve and develop the traditional profession of my people, spreading the unique culture of the Cham people to everyone," Ms. Rokya shared.
We believe that with all the passion and love that Phatymah, Saphynah, Rokya... have for the national cultural tradition, it will be an inspiring story for the Cham people, especially the youth. Through that, each individual will contribute to preserving and building the homeland to be better and better.
Source
Comment (0)