READING 1
Cultural diversity is a vital aspect of any society, and festivals of ethnic groups play an essential role in preserving the cultural identity of a community. Embracing cultural values through festivals is an important way of staying connected with one’s community as well as its history and traditions. The well-known Katê Festival of the Chăm people in Vietnam is an example that illustrates this.
The Katê Festival, also known as Mbăng Katê, is the biggest yearly festival for the Chăm people in Vietnam. It is a special time of year when they honor important figures in their history and the deceased members of their families. The festival takes place on the first day of the seventh month in the Chăm calendar, usually in September or October. It lasts for three days and occurs around three important ancient structures in Ninh Thuân Province: the Po Klaung Yägrai Tower, the Po Romé Tower, and the Po Inú Nagar Temple. All of these locations are significant to Champa culture and history.
On the morning of the first day, Chăm families participate in processions as they travel to the towers and temple, bringing gifts of fruit, meat, and rice. During a special ceremony, the Chăm people receive costumes of the Goddess Po Nagar from the Raglai people, a cultural group closely connected to Champa culture. The Chăm carry these costumes to the temple to celebrate Po Nagar, after which they open the gates. Inside the temple, they bathe the statues of important figures and watch sacred dances. Following these performances, people enjoy lively parties until the evening of the festival's second day.
On the last day, people make special offerings to their gods at community houses in their villages and pray for luck and good health for the coming year. Once this is over, there are traditional music performances, and people engage in fun activities such as playing football and participating in weaving competitions.
The Katê Festival is a popular celebration of the Chăm people's traditional culture and beliefs. It is not only an important event in the Chăm calendar but also a symbol of the Chăm community's unity and rich cultural heritage.
(Adapted from Bright)
