Ninh Thuan(VNA) - Kate Festival, the largest traditional festival of Vietnam’s Chamethnic minority people, has been recognised by the Ministry of Culture, Sportsand Tourism as an intangible cultural heritage.

The ministry made theannouncement on October 19 at the Po Klong Garai Temple on the occasion of theKate festival in the central province of Ninh Thuan.

The Kate festival isheld annually for three days in the seventh lunar month, which fell on October18-20 this year. The event is an opportunity for the Cham to show theirgratitude to kings, mandarins and ancestors.

The Cham people calltheir kings and mandarins the Pokal, village genie the Po Play, and ancestorsthe Mu Kay.

The first day of thefestival begins with a thanksgiving ceremony to the Po Play in villages.

On the second day, theCham give offerings to the Pokal at ancient temples to pray for a peaceful andhappy life. From the third day, they celebrate at home to honour theirancestors.

During the festival,people wear traditional clothes to join in rituals and cultural activities,folk dances, musical performances with traditional instruments, and folk games.

The Kate is the Cham’smost important festival. It has been known as one of the 15 largest festivalsin the country, attracting thousands of locals as well as domestic andinternational visitors every year. 

The Cham people’sancient pottery tradition, which survives in Bau Truc village in the centralprovince of Ninh Thuan also received recognition as national intangiblecultural heritage.

Speaking at theceremony, held within the festival, vice chairman of Ninh Thuan province’sPeople’s Committee, Le Van Binh, said the recognition would honour the culturalvalues of the Cham.

Binh added that thetitle would bring more opportunities to promote provincial and local tourism.

To preserve theheritage, Binh called for the efforts of local people and organisations.

Director of Ninh Thuan province’sDepartment of Culture, Sports and Tourism Chau Thanh Hai said the uniquefeature of Bau Truc village pottery lies in its manual shaping without the useof a potter’s wheel. The Cham people use their hands to create soulful potteryproducts in diverse shapes and sizes, including traditional designs, such asApsara statues, water jars and decorative lamps, vases and bas-reliefs.

The pottery is firedwith straw or wood in the open air on bare land. This creates different shadeson each piece, making them unique.

The heritage recognitionis a first step for Ninh Thuan province in producing measures to preserve andpromote local heritage and culture.

Bau Truc pottery villageis one of the oldest ceramic villages in Southeast Asia. About 85 percent ofthe village’s 400 households make pottery.-VNA