Biography
The Jarai (also Người Gia Rai, Gia Rai, or Gia-rai) is an ethnic group based primarily in Vietnam's Central Highlands. The Jarai language is a member of the Malayo-Polynesian branch of the Austronesian language family. The Jarai language is related to the Cham language of central Vietnam, and the Malayo-Polynesian languages of Indonesia, Malaysia, Madagascar and the Philippines. The speakers of Jarai number approximately 332,557. They are the largest of the upland ethnic groups of the Central Highlands known as Degar or Montagnards.
The Jarai have several types of gong ensemble, each devoted to a specific ritual function. The čing hrap is the largest and most common of these ensembles. It originated in the Jarai sub-group Jarai Hrap. It is used to accompany funeral rites and sacrifices to the spirits.
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