Golden Linga Relic Recognized as National Treasure

On the morning of October 2, Binh Thuan province held a ceremony to announce the Prime Minister 's Decision on recognizing the national treasure Golden Linga - phase 12, associated with the opening of the Kate festival in 2024 taking place at the Po Sah Inư tower relic, Phu Hai ward (Phan Thiet city).

From early morning, many Cham people and tourists flocked to the Po Bao Inư tower relic to celebrate the Ka Te Festival and attend the ceremony to announce the Golden Linga as a national treasure.

At the ceremony, Mr. Vo Thanh Huy, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Binh Thuan province, said: The Po Dam Cham tower relic site (where the golden Linga was discovered) is located on the slope of Ong Xiem mountain in Phu Lac commune, Tuy Phong district.

Po Dam Tower Group was ranked as a national architectural and artistic relic by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 1996.

With the approval of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2013 - 2014, the Department coordinated with the Southern Institute of Social Sciences to organize two archaeological excavations at the Po Dam Cham tower group.

A special performance by Cham girls at the festival.

Through archaeological excavations, many important structures were discovered in the precious tower complex.

Specifically, the excavation found many valuable artifacts such as: stone slabs carved with ancient Cham characters in the form of stele inscriptions. The results of analysis of the ancient characters on the stone slabs showed that the tower was built around the year 710.

This is an extremely important new discovery, contributing to determining the construction date of the Tower Complex in the early 8th century, equivalent to the My Son E1 and My Son C7 architectural groups in Quang Nam.

The golden Linga has just been declared a national treasure.

In particular, this archaeological excavation at the Po Dam tower site discovered a golden Linga and many other valuable artifacts such as: yoni pedestal, grinding table; musical instruments such as: bells, cymbals, rattles, muta rings, bronze mirrors, axes, spears.

The discovered artifacts contribute to affirming the historical, cultural, religious and phallic worship values ​​of the Cham people at the Po Dam tower relic.

Mr. Doan Anh Dung, Chairman of Binh Thuan Provincial People's Committee, presented flowers to congratulate Cham people on the occasion of Kate Festival at the ceremony announcing the Prime Minister's Decision on recognizing national treasures.

Monk Thuong Xuan Huu, Chairman of the Council of Brahmanical dignitaries of Binh Thuan province, said: Up to now, many Cham cultural heritages in Binh Thuan have been ranked, invested in, restored, embellished, and promoted effectively by the State.

Of these, two towers and three temples are ranked as national monuments, five temples are ranked as provincial monuments, and two heritages are included in the List of National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

In particular, the traditional pottery making craft of the Cham people has been included in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).

Foreign tourists come to visit the festival.

"The golden linga discovered through archaeological excavations at Po Dam tower, Phu Lac commune, Tuy Phong district has been recognized as a national treasure by the Prime Minister.

It can be said that this is a great joy, honor and pride for our Cham community, when the cultural heritage created, nurtured and left by our ancestors is for today's descendants to inherit and preserve," said Venerable Thuong Xuan Huu, Chairman of the Council of Brahmin Clergy.

According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Binh Thuan province, as of early 2023, Binh Thuan province is preserving, conserving, displaying and worshiping tens of thousands of artifacts, antiques and documents of historical, cultural and artistic value at museums, relics, and religious and belief establishments.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/bao-vat-linga-vang-duoc-cong-nhan-bao-vat-quoc-gia-192241002113534929.htm