In order to create a joyful and healthy atmosphere, promote and introduce the value and preserve the precious tangible and intangible cultural heritage of the Cham people of Binh Thuan , the Provincial Museum has organized cultural programs for tourists visiting the Cham Cultural Exhibition Center.
Following the rituals on the 1st day of the 7th month of the Cham calendar (October 14, 2023) at the Po Sah Inư Tower (Phú Hài Ward, Phan Thiết City) and the Pô Nit Temple (Phan Hiệp Commune, Bắc Bình District), from early morning on October 17, a large number of locals and tourists from within and outside the province gathered to watch and participate in activities at the Cham Cultural Exhibition Center. These included a traditional Cham script writing competition for ages 18-50; demonstrations of pottery, weaving, and gingerbread making; enjoying Cham folk songs and dances; and admiring a collection themed "Ancient Jewelry of the Cham People and Other Ethnic Groups in the Central Highlands" by collector Nguyễn Quốc Dũng (Da Lat City, Lâm Đồng Province). In addition, the Museum guided visitors to admire the Cham Royal Family's open-air collection in Phan Thanh Commune, Bắc Bình District. Visit the Po Anit temple in Phan Hiep commune, Bac Binh district.
Ms. Nguyen Nha Thanh (a tourist from Da Lat) said: "I was captivated by the skillful hands of the Cham artisans during their gingerbread making demonstration. The shaping process showcased meticulousness, dexterity, and the affection of the bakers. The gingerbread cakes are entirely handmade, closely resembling real ginger roots. Looking at the small, pretty cakes, with their evenly shaped, smooth, and glossy tops, and seeing the smiles of the women after each finished cake, I realized how much the Cham people cherish these traditional cakes."
The Katê festival of the Cham people usually takes place at the beginning of the 7th month of the Cham calendar each year (corresponding to October in the Gregorian calendar). According to Cham beliefs, the Katê festival, also known as the Father's Festival, commemorates the merits of male deities (masculine). Besides the Father's Festival, the Cham also have the Mother's Festival, the Cambur Festival, which takes place in mid-September of the Cham calendar to commemorate the merits of female deities, especially the Ancestral Mother Po Inâ Nâgar (feminine).
According to Mr. Lam Tan Binh, a researcher of Cham culture in Binh Thuan, the display of offerings at the Katê ceremony in each family clan also carries the meaning of expressing the fidelity of the mother and the filial piety of the children towards the father's nurturing love during his lifetime, according to the matriarchal system, and praying for the prosperity of humanity.
Cham culture is an inseparable part of Vietnamese national culture. The Cham Cultural Exhibition Center currently displays over 1,500 artifacts and antiques, categorized into themes: Cham royal heritage collection; images and artifacts; traditional agricultural and fishing tools; artifacts and demonstrations of Cham pottery making; traditional handcrafted textile materials, tools, and products; and research results on intangible cultural heritage, clearly reflecting the spiritual and material life of the Cham people, past and present. Since its opening in September 2010, the center has become a common home for Cham people and tourists to study, exchange ideas, and participate in cultural activities during festivals and holidays. In particular, from the beginning of the year to date, the center has welcomed over 7,000 visitors.
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