Buzz
Katê Festival in Ninh Thuan usually garners considerable attention from many tourists. During this time, the area is bustling with visitors, adding to the festival's vibrancy. You'll witness unique traditional rituals and captivating displays deeply rooted in Cham culture. It's truly an experience not to be missed when visiting Ninh Thuan.
Origin of Katê Festival
Ever wondered what Katê Festival is all about? Or where it originated from? Katê is derived from Kattika in Pali, India. Narrowly interpreted, it means rituals in the 7th month of the Cham calendar. Broadly, it signifies honoring ancestors, deities, and those who contributed to the community. That's the essence of Katê Festival.
Katê Festival takes place in a lively and bustling atmosphere (Image Source: Collected)
Katê Festival of the Cham people embodies the rich cultural heritage of ancient Champa. However, influenced by Islamic and Indian cultures, there have been some changes over time. This is evident in the three Cham religious groups: Cham Awal, Cham Ahier, and Cham Islam. Initially, these three groups had similar customs and rituals. But gradually, differences emerged.
History of Katê Festival
There are hardly any records about Katê Festival, nor specific information about its origins. Hence, we can briefly explore the history during the period from the 2nd to the 12th centuries. This was the heyday of the Champa kingdom, providing some context for the emergence of this remarkable festival.
During that time, the influence of Indian religion on Champa had some impacts. Most notably, it affected the religious ceremonies of the Cham people during significant events. For instance, after victories in battles, during bountiful harvests, and during the coronation ceremonies of kings and lords... Around the 15th century (around 1471), the capital Vijaya (in present-day Binh Dinh province) began to decline. This marked the gradual collapse of Cham civilization.
This festival has been long-awaited and highly anticipated by the Cham people (Image Source: Collected)
As a result, the influence of Indian religion gradually waned, making way for the rise of Islam. During this time, despite the flourishing of Islam, remnants of Indian religion still persisted in Champa. This is why the Cham community is still divided into different religious beliefs.
Among these, the largest group is the Cham Ahier following the religion of Bà La Môn. While the Cham Awal follow the faith of Bà Ni. And the Katê festival we are exploring is the festival of the Cham Bà La Môn community.
Timing of Katê Festival
If you're an avid explorer, you'd surely want to know when Katê Festival takes place. Typically, the Katê festival schedule spans over 3 days. It starts on the 1st of the 7th month according to the Cham calendar (approximately from September 25th to October 5th in the Gregorian calendar).
This festival is often held at temple tower complexes. For example, the towers of Bà Po Nagar, Po Rome, and Po Rome. Subsequently, Katê festival extends to villages and households. This cultural beauty is likened to a continuous flow from the community to each individual. This traditional custom has been preserved by the Cham people for thousands of years.
If you're interested in learning about Cham festivals and culture, you can't afford to miss this event (Image Source: Collected)
If you want to participate in Katê Festival, you can book a festival tour package around October in the Gregorian calendar. During that time, you'll immerse yourself in the joy with the locals here. However, when attending this festival, it's advisable to prioritize dynamic clothing. But if you're coming to witness rituals and ceremonies, opt for modest attire.
Rituals in Katê Festival
As mentioned earlier, Katê Festival will commence from the temple towers. Then, it will extend to villages and families. These rituals will simultaneously take place in 3 major temple tower complexes in Ninh Thuan.
1. At the temple tower complex
Let's see how the rituals at the temple towers unfold!
About the Rituals
Katê Festival will commence with the ritual ceremonies. These ceremonies are directed by the master of ceremonies, also known as the chief priest. During this time, the chief priest will lead the Kanhi ensemble and sing the Hymn loudly. Simultaneously, offerings will be made to the deities. Following this, the chief priest will oversee the statue bathing ceremony, performed by the Bà La Môn monks.
It can be said that this is a grand festival indeed (Image Source: Collected)
The ceremonial items used in this festival are magnificent. They include 1 large goat, 5 trays of rice, soup and goat meat, 3 chickens for purification rituals in the towers, 3 trays of rice cakes, 1 tray of rice with sesame salt, fruits. Additionally, there are betel leaves, wine, sweet rice... That's just the offerings for the towers. At the base of the towers, there are hundreds of other offerings prepared by the attendees.
Procedure of Katê Festival at the temple towers
At 7 a.m., the ceremony to welcome the ceremonial attire from the youngest Raglai sibling, brought down from the mountains, will take place. All rituals are conducted with utmost reverence and solemnity. Next, the chief priest will open the tower doors for the deities to attend the ceremony and receive the offerings. Then, the statue bathing ceremony begins.
Next, there will be a ceremony to dress the statue of the deity Anguei Khan Aw Kapo. The Adaoh Tâm ceremony is considered the most important part of the ritual. This ceremony takes place from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., concluding the morning session. After completing all procedures, the people will return to the village and continue with other rituals.
2. In the village and within households
The ceremonial rituals of Katê Festival in the village will take place concurrently with the festivities. Prior to this, villagers will collectively clean the shrines, decorate the village, and organize food, drinks, and recreational activities. Additionally, they will prepare unique cultural performances to enhance the joy of this celebration. The rituals organized in the village are equally solemn as those at the temple towers.
Depending on the belief system, each village will worship different deities. However, the common practice is to worship the village deity. The village priest is not necessarily a religious figure but rather the most respected and trusted individual in the community. They will represent the villagers in offering sacrifices to the deity, praying for blessings for all members of the household and the village.
Image of people preparing offerings to present to the deities (Image Source: Collected)
After the Katê Festival in the village, the Cham people will return home to perform rituals. The officiant will be the oldest member of the family lineage. They will represent the family in offering sacrifices to the ancestors. Every family member on that day must be present, dressed neatly. Each person will earnestly pray for the best.
Katê Festival will undoubtedly leave an unforgettable impression on you. It would be wonderful if you could experience this joyful and solemn atmosphere at least once. Through this, you will have the opportunity to learn more about the customs and culture of the Cham people. If you need to book a tour to Ninh Thuan, contact Mytour via hotline Mytour!
