Kate festival is coming soon in Binh Thuan and Ninh Thuan provinces

According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Binh Thuan province, the Kate Festival 2024 will take place at the Po Sah Inư tower relic (Phan Thiet city) on October 1 and 2 with many traditional ceremonies and festivals imbued with Cham folk culture.

On October 2, the opening ceremony and announcement of the Prime Minister's Decision on recognizing national treasures - batch 12, 2023 for the golden Linga discovered at Po Dam tower (in Phu Lac commune, Tuy Phong district), dating from around the 8th - 9th century, will take place.

On the main festival day, there will be a ceremony to welcome the Goddess Po Sah Inư's costume to the main tower, open the tower door, bathe the Linga - Yoni altar, wear the Linga - Yoni altar costume and a grand ceremony to thank Goddess Po Sah Inư, the gods, grandparents and ancestors.

The Kate Festival of the Cham people has long become a cultural beauty. Photo: Bao Trung

The festival includes exciting activities taking place on the main stage such as the Saranai trumpet blowing competition and the water team overcoming obstacles; decorating offerings on Thonla and Co Bong to worship Goddess Po Sah Inu. The folk art exchange program serves the people and tourists.

Binh Thuan also creates conditions for Cham Brahman people to celebrate Kate Tet joyfully, safely and economically. Kate Tet holiday in 2024 for officials, soldiers, civil servants, public employees, laborers, workers, students and pupils who are Cham Brahman people in the province is 3 days, from October 2 to October 4.

In Ninh Thuan , the 2024 Kate festival of the Cham people will be held for three days, October 1, 2 and 3. The main ceremony will be held on the morning of October 2 at three Cham temple and tower areas: Po Klong Garai Tower (Phan Rang - Thap Cham City), Po Rome Tower and Po Inư Nưgar Temple (Ninh Phuoc District).

The Ninh Thuan Provincial People's Committee has issued a document assigning the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to preside over and coordinate with the Department of Home Affairs, the People's Committee of Phan Rang - Thap Cham city and the People's Committee of Ninh Phuoc district to guide and support the Provincial Council of Cham Brahmin dignitaries and the Customs Board of the Cham tower areas to organize the opening ceremony of the Kate festival to ensure solemnity, thoughtfulness and on time. Along with that, develop a plan to organize cultural, artistic, sports and tourism activities to celebrate the Kate festival in 2024 and promote the Kate festival to travel and tourism units associated with the successful organization of the 6th Cham Ethnic Cultural Festival in 2024 in Ninh Thuan province.

Binh Thuan and Ninh Thuan are two localities with a large concentration of Cham people in our country. Kate is the oldest and most unique folk festival of the Cham people following Brahmanism in Binh Thuan with the meaning of remembering the gods and praying for favorable weather, good crops, harmonious couples, and the growth of people and all things.

The Kate Festival of the Cham people is held annually on the 1st of the 7th month of the Cham calendar (usually in late September or early October of the solar calendar), lasting for 3 days. During the Kate Festival, not only the Cham people in Binh Thuan but also the Cham people living and working everywhere return to reunite and gather with their families, friends and relatives./.

Source: https://toquoc.vn/sap-dien-ra-le-hoi-kate-cua-nguoi-cham-o-binh-thuan-va-ninh-thuan-20240920203036064.htm