Binh Thuan: Cham people’s Kate Festival listed as national intangible cultural heritage
The Kate Festival of the Cham ethnic people in the south central province of Binh Thuan has been included on a list of national intangible cultural heritages, according to the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The ritual of praying for peace in the Kate Festival. (Photo: VNA)
BinhThuan (VNA) – The Kate Festival of the Cham ethnic people in the south central province of BinhThuan has been included on a list of national intangible cultural heritages,according to the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Kate,the most important folk festival of Brahmanism followers, pays tribute to the gods and prays for good weather, bumper crops,and the development of people and all living things. It features bothtraditional rituals and folk games.
During the festival, Cham people not only in Binh Thuan butalso in other areas return home to reunite with their families and friends.
Over the last 15 years, the Kate Festival has been reenactedat the Po Sah Inu Tower Complex in Phu Hai ward, Phan Thiet city. It has beenselected as one of six festivals aimed at tourism development in the province,helping to meet the Cham people’s spiritual demands and introduce the localculture to Vietnamese and foreign visitors.
Binh Thuan is currently home to nearly 40,000 Cham people,mostly in Tuy Phong, Bac Binh, Ham Thuan Bac and Tanh Linh districts.
Local Cham people also hold many other traditionalfestivals, including Rijanugar, Suc dang and Ramuwan./.
Kate, the largest and most important traditional festival of Cham ethic people in Vietnam, is celebrated on the first day of the seventh lunar month to revere Gods, heroes, ancestors, and kings.
The 2020 Kate festival is scheduled to take place in Phan Thiet city of the south central province of Binh Thuan on October 15-16, the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has announced.
Located in the southernmost part of the coastal central region, Binh Thuan is gradually gaining a firm foothold in tourism, promising a regional- and world-level attraction in the near future.
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The ritual of praying for peace in the Kate Festival. (Photo: VNA) 
