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Lễ Katê of the Chăm people

Culture and belief A record of custom.

About this rite: when it is held and for whom

Also called: Katê tại tháp, Katê tại làng, Cúng cơm gia đình dịp Katê, Kate, Tết Katê

The major annual festival of the Chăm people who follow Brahmanism: procession of the sacred costumes, opening of the tower, bathing the statues, dressing the statues and the great ceremony at the tower, then returning to the village and offering rice in each household. The sources describe the rituals, and do not transcribe the hymns.

When
The 1st day of the seventh month of the Chăm calendar (around late September or October of the solar calendar)
For whom
The deities and kings worshipped at the temples and towers (Po Klong Garai, Po Rome, Po Inư Nưgar, Pô Sah Inư); grandparents and ancestors

Offerings and how the rite is done

As commonly practised and recorded by the sources. Each family and each region may do it differently.

South Central Coast, Chăm, Ninh Thuận, Cham Brahmanist tradition (Cham Ahiêr), At the temple of the one being honoured

When
The 1st day of the seventh month of the Chăm calendar; the procession of the sacred costumes takes place on the afternoon of the previous day
Where the offerings are set
The temples and towers: Po Klong Garai tower, Po Rome tower, Po Inư Nưgar temple in Hữu Đức village
Who makes the offering
The chief officiant is the Po Dhya (high priest); the Kadhar master plays the kanhi lute and sings the hymns; the Muk Pajaw medium; the Ra-glai people keep and hand over the sacred costumes

Offerings

OfferingNotes
The sacred costumes of the goddess Po Inư Nưgar and of the kings Po Klong Garai, Po RomeRequired. kept by the Ra-glai clans
Offerings and rice brought up to the tower by each family
Water for bathing the statuesRequired

Steps

  1. Afternoon of the previous day: offering to the sacred costumes at the two houses of the Ra-glai clans that keep them, then the Chăm receive the sacred costumes and process them to the temple; at the head of the procession is a group of Ra-glai people blowing the gourd pipe and beating the mã la gong, followed by the chief priest, the master playing the kanhi lute, and the medium
  2. Morning of the festival day: presentation to the deities; Po Dhya sprinkles water on the relief of the god Shiva on the tower door, and those present catch the water and rub it on their heads and faces
  3. Po Dhya prays for permission to open the tower door; the medium together with the Kadhar master perform the rite of opening the tower door, bathing the deity statues, and changing the statues' clothing
  4. Great ceremony: the Kadhar master plays the kanhi lute and sings hymns recounting the deeds of the deities and kings; the medium prays for peace and safety; Po Dhya presents the offerings and offers rice according to the hymns
  5. After the ceremony at the tower, the people return to hold the Katê ceremony in the village and then offer rice in each family

South Central Coast, Chăm, tháp Pô Sah Inư, Phan Thiết, Bình Thuận, Cham Brahmanist tradition (Cham Ahiêr), At the temple of the one being honoured

Where the offerings are set
Tháp Pô Sah Inư (Phú Hài, Phan Thiết)
Who makes the offering
Conducted by Chăm religious dignitaries

Offerings

OfferingNotes
The costume of the goddess Pô Sah InưRequired
Offerings displayed on the Thoonlathe festive part includes a contest of displaying and decorating offerings
Ginger cakethe festive part includes a ginger cake making contest

Steps

  1. Procession of the costume of the goddess Pô Sah Inư from the ceremony yard up to the main tower
  2. Opening of the main tower
  3. Bathing the Linga and Yoni pedestal
  4. Dressing in the costume
  5. Great ceremony celebrating Katê at the main tower

Sources

  • Katê, lễ hội văn hóa lớn của người Chăm (Báo Pháp Luật TP.HCM, tuoitre.vn/plo)
  • Người Chăm Ninh Thuận tưng bừng khai hội Katê (Báo Pháp Luật TP.HCM, tuoitre.vn/plo)
  • Nhộn nhịp Lễ hội Katê 2022 ở Ninh Thuận (nhandan.vn)
  • Độc đáo lễ rước y trang và dấu tích về bộ y phục Thánh Mẫu Ina Nagar (baovanhoa.vn)
  • Độc đáo Lễ hội Katê của đồng bào Chăm theo đạo Bà la môn (Báo Pháp Luật TP.HCM, tuoitre.vn/plo)
  • Đồng bào Chăm ở Bình Thuận nô nức đón Lễ hội Katê 2019 (baovanhoa.vn)
  • Đồng bào Chăm tỉnh Bình Thuận vui tết Katê (sggp.org.vn)

Part of the open dataset Types of Vietnamese offering rites and Vietnamese offering procedures, licensed CC BY 4.0.

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