Who is Jarai people?

        Jarai boys wear the traditional clothes

 I. Who is Jarai?                     

 Jarai is an indigenous group from central highland of Vietnam. living in two countries such as Vietnam and Northeastern Cambodia.  Most of this ethnic group is live in the Vietnamese provinces of Gia Lai, Kon Tum and Dak Lak and Cambodian, Ratanakiri province (Oyadav, Borkeo, OdongMeas). Jarai is related to the Malayo-Polynesian language.

There are   approximately 513,930 in Vietnam (Wikipedia-2019) and 26,335 in Cambodia (Wikipedia-2008). Jarai is the second largest after Krueng (Indigenous group) in Ratanakiri province.

In Cambodia, Jarai is very interesting indigenous tribe which have more than 8 clans as well as Romam, Sev, Rochom, Klan (Ting), Pouy, Sol, Romas, etc. The clan is easy to identify this ethnic. 

II. Jarai village

Jarai village

Jarai is ethnic is live in small villages which based in the deep forest and mountain. Therefore, the village is most beautiful view and surrounding by forest and mountain, there are estimated 60-100 in population. But nowadays, there are more than 100 people in one village. 

In the past, the house is very good concepts of designing. The Jarai traditional houses are made by bamboos and wood, one meter up the ground. 

Regarding to Wikipedia, the traditional region of Jarai is Animism. Many Jarai people believe that objects, places and creatures possess distinctive spiritual qualities. The animism has two elements. First, the idea that Jarai ethnic received the Sacred Sword form heaven that means wisdom and spiritual figure of the King of Fire, King of Water and King of Wind. The King of Jarai is just the leader of religion not represent political figures. 

V. Traditional wedding 

Wedding

Traditional of Jarai people is a culture that using the line from female (mother & grandma). For Jarai is the one to take the inititive of the marriage of her daughters and husband is expected to come to live in the woman house. The jarai wedding is prepare at the house of women because it is give respect to women. 

VI. Jarai alphabet

Jarai language is written with an adapted version of the Latin Script. The alphabet contain 4o letters. The script is written from left to right in horizontal lines. There is relatively closes correspondence between on the presentation of Jarai alphabet, the alphabet below has been used by various linguists and by Jarai writers. 

Jarai letter