The brilliant Kate Festival at the foot of Po Sah Inu Tower: The ancient cultural soul revives

The Kate Festival 2025 takes place at the foot of Po Sah Inu tower, where Cham people and tourists immerse themselves in a sacred space, recreating traditional cultural features preserved through generations.

On the morning of October 21, at Po Sah Inu tower, Phu Thuy ward, Lam Dong province (Phu Hai ward, old Phan Thiet city), the Kate Festival 2025 officially opened with the bustling sound of Paranung drums, saranai trumpets and colorful traditional costumes.

Kate is a folk festival that has existed for thousands of years among the Cham people who follow Brahmanism - one of the most unique festivals, symbolizing the spirit of respecting the gods, remembering ancestors, showing gratitude to the gods and praying for favorable weather, bountiful crops, and a prosperous life.

Prepare to bring the physician to the tower

PHOTO: QUE HA

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Dinh Van Tuan - Vice Chairman of Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee sent his congratulations to the Cham people in the province, hoping that they would welcome the Kate season in solidarity, joy and health.

Mr. Dinh Van Tuan - Vice Chairman of Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee spoke at this year's Kate Festival

PHOTO: QUE HA

Mr. Tuan emphasized that the Party, State and Lam Dong province always believe in the solidarity and companionship of Cham people in the cause of preserving and promoting the value of national cultural heritage.

At the ceremony, Ms. Pham Thi Phuc - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairwoman of the Provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee and Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuan Bich - Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People's Council presented gifts and congratulated Cham dignitaries, expressing their respect for the precious spiritual heritage that this community is preserving.

Ms. Pham Thi Phuc - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee (right cover), Chairwoman of the Provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee and Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuan Bich - Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People's Council (left cover) presented gifts and congratulated the Cham people.

PHOTO: QUE HA

From noon on October 20, Cham people from all communes in the province gathered at Po Sah Inu tower, together cleaning, setting up camp, and preparing offerings for the big festival. After the opening ceremony, dignitaries conducted the procession of Goddess Po Sah Inu in costume - the most sacred part of the Kate festival. People in traditional costumes, holding offerings, slowly walked through the ceremony yard towards the main tower, creating a colorful picture in the autumn sunshine of the coastal region.

Kate festival scene next to Po Sah Inu Cham tower

PHOTO: QUE HA

Next is a series of traditional rituals: opening the tower door, bathing the Linga-Yoni altar, dressing up and holding a grand Kate worship ceremony at the main tower. When the ceremony ends, the festival atmosphere is filled with Cham music and folk games such as pounding rice, blindfolded pot-breaking, fan dancing, drum dancing...

Carrying the divine medicine to Po Sah Inu tower

PHOTO: QUE HA

Kate is not only an occasion for reconciliation between humans and gods, but also a space for Cham people to express their beliefs and national pride, affirming their own distinct cultural identity.

Nowadays, the Kate Festival also attracts a large number of tourists and young people to learn and explore Cham culture - a source of heritage that contributes to enriching the cultural identity of Lam Dong.

Traditional fan dance of Cham girls

PHOTO: QUE HA

Since April 2022, the Kate Festival of the Cham people in Binh Thuan has been included in the list of National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism - a vivid testament to the endurance of a culture that has endured over time.

Foreign tourists visit the festival

PHOTO: QUE HA

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/le-hoi-kate-ruc-ro-duoi-chan-thap-posahinu-hon-van-hoa-xua-hoi-sinh-185251021121407278.htm