Cham people in Binh Thuan celebrated Kate festival 2020

Kate festival of the Cham community in Binh Thuan

This annual event, which was organized by the department of Culture-Sports and Tourism, also attracted the attention of local people and tourists. The Cham dignitaries, craftsmen, and people from districts of Ham Thuan Bac, Ham Thuan Nam, Bac Binh, Tuy Phong Tanh Linh, and Ham Tan gathered on the PoshaInu tower to perform traditional ceremonies and make exchanges with one another.

This festival included festive activities and traditional rituals to worship and commemorate ancestors, wishing for bumper crops and peaceful life.

According to Mr. Vo Thanh Huy- deputy director of the department of Culture-Sports and Tourism, the provincial authorities and functional bodies have paid special attention to caring for material and spirituals of the Cham community in Binh Thuan. He emphasized that the Party and State always promote the unity bloc of the Cham and other ethnic minorities in order to contribute to the preservation and promotion of traditional cultural characteristics of Vietnam’s ethnic minorities and enhancing national solidarity. In the face of restrictions and other preventive measures imposed to prevent the Covid-19 pandemic, Mr. Huy asked all participants to strictly comply with all cautions and regulations to keep themselves safe and healthy during the celebration of Kate festival 2020.  Visitors and local people also explored The Cham cultural characteristics through a photo exhibition that showcased the Cham cultural heritage of the Cham people and an art show with traditional musical instruments of the Cham people. Binh Thuan is one of the provinces that have large numbers of Cham people live in. 5 historical relics of the Cham community in Binh Thuan have been recognized as national monuments.

The festival is part of a series of activities of  local tourism sector in celebration of the 25th anniversary of Binh Thuan Tourism Day (October 25, 2005-2020), and welcoming the success of the 14th provincial Party Congress (tenure 2020-2025).

Translated by Phuong Lan (Source: Binh Thuan Online)