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 Katê Festival 2024 will take place at the Po Sah Inư Tower relic (Phan Thiet city) on October 1st and 2nd, featuring many traditional ceremonies and festivities rich in Cham folk culture.

Specifically, on October 2nd, the opening ceremony will take place, along with the announcement of the Prime Minister 's Decision recognizing the golden Linga discovered at Po Dam Tower (in Phu Lac commune, Tuy Phong district), dating back to approximately the 8th-9th centuries, as a national treasure - batch 12, 2023.

On the main festival day, there will be a procession carrying the attire of the goddess Po Sah Inu to the main tower, opening the tower doors, bathing the Linga-Yoni altar, dressing the Linga-Yoni altar in its attire, and a grand thanksgiving ceremony to the goddess Po Sah Inu, the deities, and ancestors.

The Katê festival of the Cham people has long been a beautiful cultural tradition. Photo: Bao Trung

The festival section features lively activities taking place on the main stage, such as the Saranai horn-blowing competition and the water-crossing obstacle course; decorating offerings on Thonla and Co Bong to worship the Goddess Po Sah Inu. There is also a folk art performance program for the people and tourists.

Binh Thuan province also facilitates a joyful, safe, and economical Katê festival for the Cham Brahman people. The Katê festival holiday in 2024 for officials, soldiers, civil servants, employees, workers, students, and pupils of Cham ethnicity who follow the Brahman religion in the province is 3 days, from October 2nd to October 4th.

In Ninh Thuan , the 2024 Katê festival of the Cham people will be held over three days, October 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. The main ceremony will take place on the morning of October 2nd at three Cham temple and tower areas: Po Klong Garai Tower (Phan Rang - Thap Cham City), Po Rome Tower and Po Inu Nugar 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 Brahman Religious Leaders and the Customs Committee of the Cham tower areas in organizing the opening ceremony of the Katê festival, ensuring it is solemn, thorough, and on time. In addition, they are to develop a plan for organizing cultural, artistic, sports, and tourism activities to celebrate the Katê festival in 2024 and promote the Katê festival to travel and tourism agencies, in conjunction with the successful organization of the 6th Cham Ethnic Culture Festival in Ninh Thuan province in 2024.

Binh Thuan and Ninh Thuan are two provinces with a large concentration of Cham people in Vietnam. Katê is a long-standing and unique folk festival of the Cham people who follow Brahmanism in Binh Thuan, with the meaning of commemorating the gods and praying for favorable weather, bountiful harvests, harmonious relationships, and the flourishing of people and all things.

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

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