(VOVworld) – The Kate festival, the biggest annual festival of the Cham ethnic people of the Balamon religion, opened in Phan Rang City in Ninh Thuan province on Thursday. It takes place on the first day of the seventh month of the Cham calendar, which falls in September or October of the solar calendar.

Po Klong Garai Tower in the festive day (Photo: thanhnien.com)

Village patriarchs, dignitaries, authorities, and crowds of Cham and Raglai people began the festival with a procession of Po Klong Garai, the costumes of the gods, to the Po Klong Garai Tower. Dat Danh Hieu, from Phuoc Huu commune in Ninh Thuan, said “Every year, I join the procession of Po Klong Garai costumes from a temple to the tower with my villagers. We watch traditional dance performances like Shiva dancing.”

The ritual procession of god costumes to Po Klong Garai Tower (Photo: thanhnien.com)

Also that day, the Cham community in Binh Thuan and thousands of visitors from across the country celebrate their traditional Kate festival at Po Sha Inu Towers.

Art performances at Kate festival (Photo: thanhnien.com)

Kate festival is an opportunity for the Cham to show their respect to their gods, ancestors, national heroes and kings, and to pray for good weather, bumper crops, good health, and prosperity.
The festival is also an occasion where participants can enjoy unique folk singing, dancing, and music. This year, various cultural and art activities were held, including a competition of traditional musical instruments and of traditional Cham handwriting.