The opening ceremony took place in an atmosphere rich in the traditional culture of the Cham people - Photo: DUC CUONG
The event, organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in coordination with the People's Committee of Khanh Hoa province, was themed "Preserving and promoting the cultural identity of the Cham ethnic group in the new era".
The festival was attended by representatives from seven provinces and cities: Khanh Hoa, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Lam Dong, Tay Ninh, An Giang , and Ho Chi Minh City.
Cham culture and national unity
Speaking at the festival, Ms. Vo Thi Anh Xuan, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and Vice President of Vietnam , stated that one of the outstanding characteristics of Cham culture in Vietnam is its unity in ethnic origins, while also being rich and diverse in religious beliefs and living spaces.
"In South Central Vietnam, the Cham people still preserve many unique festivals, rituals, customs, and handicrafts; while in Southern Vietnam, a distinct cultural space has formed that connects religion with life."
"It is this diversity that creates the beauty of Cham culture, while also demonstrating the richness, tolerance, openness, and unity in diversity of Vietnamese culture," the Vice President emphasized.
Tomb sweeping ceremony - one of the unique rituals of the Cham people in former Ninh Thuan - Photo: DUC CUONG
According to Mr. Nguyen Viet Hung, Chairman of the People's Committee of Khanh Hoa province, the locality currently has over 95,000 Cham people living there, accounting for more than 50% of the total Cham population nationwide.
This region also preserves a vast system of Cham cultural heritage, including ancient tower complexes, traditional pottery making recognized by UNESCO, folk festivals, and a treasure trove of Cham cultural knowledge preserved through generations.
"The Cham Ethnic Culture Festival is also an opportunity for the locality to showcase the image of the hospitable, kind, and dynamic people of Khanh Hoa. Khanh Hoa, with its beautiful nature and diverse culture, will be an opportunity for the province to promote the development of cultural tourism, contributing to the creation of distinctive cultural and tourism products to enhance the competitiveness and position of tourism in the process of international integration," Mr. Hung emphasized.
Traditional Cham dances performed at the festival - Photo: DUC CUONG
The vibrant colors of Cham culture
According to the organizers, the festival will take place from June 26th to 28th with many unique cultural, sports, and tourism activities reflecting the distinct cultural identity of the Cham ethnic group, such as: performances and introductions of traditional festivals and cultural rituals; folk art festivals; ethnic costume shows; introductions to traditional crafts; exhibitions of Cham culture; and folk sports activities.
On opening night, a large number of tourists and locals were immersed in the dazzling artistic atmosphere of Cham ethnic culture.
The highlight of the art program is that it guides visitors from the origins of the Cham people to the cultural essence within the flow of history, thereby portraying the image of the Cham community in the era of innovation and integration.
Tourists visit and admire the Poklong Garai Cham tower complex in Khanh Hoa - Photo: Duc Cuong
For the Cham people, the festival is not simply a cultural performance. It is also an opportunity for values that have been preserved to come out into the main square, telling the story of the vitality of a culture that has existed for centuries in the sunniest and windiest region of the country.
Notably, for the first time within the framework of the festival, there will be a multimedia art installation space, combining the projection of images, sounds, and digital documents about Cham heritage, alongside a workshop discussing solutions for heritage preservation linked to sustainable tourism development.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/khai-mac-ngay-hoi-van-hoa-dan-toc-cham-o-khanh-hoa-100260626163510616.htm
