On the morning of October 2, at the Po Sah Inu tower relic (Phu Hai ward, Phan Thiet city, Binh Thuan province), the Ceremony to announce the Prime Minister's Decision to recognize the Golden Linga of Binh Thuan province as a National Treasure and the Opening of the Kate Festival 2024 took place.
At the ceremony, the national treasure Golden Linga was introduced to the public for the first time.
The golden Linga artifact was discovered during an archaeological excavation in 2013 at the Po Dam tower relic, Phu Lac commune, Tuy Phong district, Binh Thuan province and was recognized by the Prime Minister as a National Treasure - batch 12, 2023.
Through appraisal, the national treasure Golden Linga dates back to around the 8th-9th century, is a unique, rare original artifact, has historical and cultural value and contains important scientific information, of great value for research and awareness of cultural and historical issues related to Po Dam relic in particular and Cham culture in general. This artifact weighs 78.36 grams, with a pure gold content of 90.4%.
Along with the announcement ceremony of the Golden Linga National Treasure, the 2024 Kate Festival of the Cham people following Brahmanism in Binh Thuan province was opened.
Cham dignitaries and people from districts in Binh Thuan province traveled to the Po Sah Inu tower relic site to participate in rituals of praying for peace, dancing, and inviting gods at the main tower performed by Cham religious dignitaries.
The festival also includes a ceremony to welcome the Goddess Po Sah Inu's costume to the main tower, open the tower door, bathe the Linga - Yoni altar, wear the Linga - Yoni altar costume and a grand ceremony to thank Goddess Po Sah Inu, the gods, grandparents and ancestors.
On this occasion, many people and tourists, especially international tourists, came to visit the Po Sah Inu tower relic and learn about the festival.
Kate Festival is held to pray for favorable weather and good crops. It is also an opportunity to introduce the cultural image of the Cham people in Binh Thuan to domestic and foreign tourists.
