From early morning, tens of thousands of Cham people in Binh Thuan province flocked to Po Sah Inu tower, Phan Thiet city, to attend the opening ceremony of the Kate festival in 2024. On this occasion, the Cham community was joyful and excited to see with their own eyes the national treasure, the golden Linga.
In Cham culture, Linga is an important object of worship, depicting the male genitalia, symbolizing the source of life and fertility. In Brahmanism, Linga symbolizes Shiva, the god of destruction and rebirth.
National treasure Golden Linga of Binh Thuan province. Photo: Binh Thuan Provincial People's Committee
According to Mr. Bui The Nhan, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Binh Thuan province, the golden Linga was discovered during an archaeological excavation at Po Dam tower (Phu Lac commune, Tuy Phong district) in 2013. Through appraisal, scientists confirmed that this is a pure gold Linga dating back to around the 8th - 9th century, the same period as the construction of the Po Dam tower group. Since then, the golden Linga has been strictly protected at the Binh Thuan Provincial Museum.
The Golden Linga treasure has great historical, cultural and aesthetic value, weighing 78.36 grams, with pure gold accounting for 90.4%, the remaining 9.6% being silver and copper. The treasure is also an important scientific document not only for archaeology, but also has great value for the study of history, culture, fine arts, religion, metallurgy, goldsmithing, etc. of the Cham community in the past.
On January 18, 2024, the Prime Minister signed Decision No. 73/QD-TTg on the recognition of national treasures in the 12th phase - 2023. Among the 29 national treasures recognized in this phase, there is the Golden Linga of Binh Thuan province. Receiving the Prime Minister's decision to recognize the Golden Linga as a national treasure has contributed to making this year's Kate festival more solemn and cozy.
Monk Thuong Xuan Huu - Chairman of the Council of Brahmin Clergy of Binh Thuan Province, affirmed that the recognition of the Golden Linga as a national treasure is a great honor and pride for the local Cham community. At the same time, he said that he will make efforts to preserve, conserve and promote the precious cultural heritage of his people.
Binh Thuan organizes the announcement of the Prime Minister's decision to recognize the Cham people's golden Linga as a national treasure, opening the Kate festival in 2024. Photo: Thuan Thang.
This year, the Kate festival of the Cham people in Binh Thuan took place over two days, October 1 and 2, with many traditional ceremonies and festivals imbued with folk culture. After the opening ceremony, the Cham people welcomed the Goddess Po Sah Inư costume to the main tower, opened the tower door, bathed the Linga - Yoni altar, dressed in the Linga - Yoni altar costume and held a grand ceremony to thank Goddess Po Sah Inư, the gods, grandparents and ancestors.
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. Not only meeting the spiritual needs of the Cham people, the Kate festival also attracts a large number of people and tourists to study and enjoy the traditional culture of the Cham people, especially the activities in the festival.
Currently, Binh Thuan province has over 40,000 Cham people living, concentrated in the districts of Ham Thuan Bac, Bac Binh, Tuy Phong, Tanh Linh, etc. The life of the Cham people is increasingly improving, so the Kate Festival is also more prosperous. The festival opens every year on the 1st of the 7th month of the Cham calendar, on this occasion, 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/binh-thuan-cong-bo-bao-vat-quoc-gia-linga-vang-cua-nguoi-cham-20241002162208405.htm
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