Vibrant Kate festival of Cham ethnic people in southern Vietnam

A representative of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs offers gifts to the Cham ethnic community on the occasion of Kate, one of the most important festivals of the Cham ethnic people.

Locals provide traditional ginger cakes as offerings at the temple.

Ethnic girls dance with visitors in celebration of the festival.

Kate commemorates the gods and kings with great merits. During the festival, local ethnic people pay tribute to their ancestors, and pray for peace, favorable weather, and bumper crops.

Various activities are staged across the Cham community in Binh Thuan province.

A ginger cake making competition is held in Tuy Phong district of Binh Thuan province.

On behalf of the Cham ethnic community, the elders express their gratitude to their ancestors and pray for favorable weather, abundant crops, and prosperity.

While the elders prepare offerings for the rituals and conduct traditional rites such as bathing and clothes changing for the Holy Mother, young people perform traditional songs and dances.

Other activities include pottery making , brocade weaving, and food fairs.

A costume procession is held in Bac Binh district of Binh Thuan province. Kate is listed as one of the 15 largest festivals in Vietnam by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. In 2022, the Kate festival was recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage.

Vibrant Kate festival of Cham ethnic people in southern Vietnam

16-10-2023 00:16

(VOVWORLD) - Thousands of Cham ethnic people and visitors flocked to the Po Klong Garai Temple in Phan Rang City of Ninh Thuan city in south-central Vietnam on Saturday to celebrate the traditional Kate festival.