In Lam Dong province, Kate Festival celebrations are held throughout the Cham community, by temples, towers, villages, clans, and individual families. It’s a time to honor the gods and ancestors, reconnect with cultural roots, and strengthen community bonds.
Lam Bao Minh, a resident of Hong Thai commune, said: “Every year, as Kate approaches, my family cleans the house and together with other villagers we clean the roads and alleys. Celebrations begin at the temples and towers, then move to the village and finally to individual homes. This year, my family chose Saturday to celebrate Kate because my brothers and relatives work away from home, so we chose their day off, when everyone could be together.”
At the Po Sah Inu Tower relic site, preparations are well underway.
Dong Trung Tin, who looks after the Po Sah Inu Tower, said: “The site management board has cleared bushes to create a clean, green environment around the temple and tower complex for Cham people coming to perform their religious rituals.”
In 2017, the Kate Festival of the Cham people was placed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on the list of national intangible cultural heritages.
Religious rituals, the heart of the festival, include a procession of sacred costumes, the opening of the temple, ceremonial offerings, and tributes to deities and ancestors.
Colorful Cham costumes, traditional dances, and the sound of ginang drums and saranai wind instruments create an exciting atmosphere.
Tran Duc Dung, head of the Po Sah Inu Tower Relic Management Board, said: “One of the highlights of the 2026 Kate Festival is an exhibition we’re organizing in cooperation with the Mui Ne Museum of Antiquities. On display will be Cham cultural heritage artefacts in Lam Dong.”
The Kate Festival helps to preserve and promote the cultural and spiritual values of the Cham community while creating cultural exchange experiences for visitors.
