On the morning of October 24, thousands of Cham Brahman people brought offerings to the Po Klong Grai tower in Do Vinh ward, Phan Rang-Thap Cham city (Ninh Thuan), to pay tribute to the gods and pray for favourable weather, bumper crops, and the development of people and all living things.
Cham ethnic dignitaries perform a costume-carrying ritual from Ninh Phuoc district to Po Klong Grai Tower.
Falling on the first day of the seventh month of the Cham calendar, Kate is the biggest festival of the year for the Cham Brahman people. This year, Kate Festival takes place from October 23 to 25, attracting a large number of locals, and domestic and international tourists to participate.
Cultural and sports activities take place at temples, hamlets and villages of Cham people in Ninh Thuan province, during the days of the Kate Festival.
Visitors to the event can witness rituals such as the genie's costume procession, the opening of tower gates, and genie statue bathing. They also have a chance to enjoy performances of the local Gi Nang drum and Saranai horn.
The representative of Ninh Thuan province congratulated the Cham people at the ceremony.
On this occasion, the leaders of Ninh Thuan province gave gifts and congratulated the Cham people and wished that the people would continue to preserve and promote the unique cultural activities of the Cham people, in harmony with the cultures of other ethnic groups within the province, contributing to the province's socio-economic development in the coming years.
Cham women perform traditional dances at the festival.
The Kate Festival was recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2017.
