Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Binh Thuan (VNA) – Leaders of the south-central province of Binh Thuan on September 25 visited and extended greetings to the Cham Brahman community in the province on the occasion of their biggest yearly occasion – the Kate Festival.
Along with monks, dignitaries and prestigious people of the local Cham Brahman community, provincial leaders also visited those living in Phu Lac and PhongPhu communes of TuyPhong district, and Phan Hiep and Phan Thanh communes of BacBinh district.
They wished the community a prosperous and fancy festival, continuing to preserve and develop the traditional culture of the group.
Leaders also lauded the group’s efforts in building the national great unity bloc, expressing their hope that the dignitaries and prestigious people will promote their influence in the community, encourage locals to follow the Party and State’s policies and law, support each other in poverty reduction and reinforce solidarity.
For their part, Cham Brahman monks, dignitaries and followers thanked the local leaders for creating favourable conditions for them to enjoy the festival. They proposed that provincial authorities continue supporting them in economic development.
Falling on the first day of the seventh month of the Cham calendar, Kate is the most popular Cham festival in NinhThuan. It reminds the ethnic Brahman community of their ancient gods and delivers wishes for bumper harvests and the growth of all beings.
The Cham people have several distinctive festivals including the Ramuwan, the Rija Nugar, and the Chabun.
There are about 153,000 Cham people in Vietnam, including approximately 72,500 people in Ninh Thuan. Over 43,000 of them, scattered across 12 communes in seven districts, follow the religion.
Over the years, the community has received support in capital for production development, along with investment in improving infrastructure and public works, thus considerably improve locals’ living conditions./.
VNA
