Cham ethnic people in Ninh Thuan joyfully celebrate Kate Festival

Thousands of Cham ethnic people and visitors in Ninh Thuan province flocked to the Po Klong Garai Temple in Phan Rang – Thap Cham city on October 16 to celebrate the traditional Kate festival.

A traditional folk dance at the festival
A traditional folk dance at the festival

One day before opening, local Cham and Raglai ethnic people gathered at Po Nugar temple in Huu Duc hamlet and Po Rome in Hau Sanh commune, Ninh Phuoc district to join a procession of the Goddess Po Inu Nagar - the Holy Mother of the Cham community in the Southern Central region.

On behalf of the Cham ethnic community, elders expressed their gratitude to the ancestors and prayed for favourable weather, abundant crops and prosperity.

While the elders prepared offerings for the rituals and conducted traditional rites such as bathing and clothes changing for the Holy Mother, youngsters livened up the atmosphere with traditional songs and dances.

At the event, leaders of Ninh Thuan province extended their greetings to the Cham ethnic community on their traditional festival, expressing their belief that Cham people will continue joining hands to successfully realise provincial socio-economic development goals.

On the three following days, Cham ethnic people visit and extend their best greetings to each other. Joyfully activities are also being staged across the Cham people’s community on the occasion.

The Kate Festival is one of the biggest festivals in Vietnam. It was recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2017.