KATE FESTIVAL AT PO SAH INU TOWER

12/12/2024 68 0
Trong di sản văn hóa Chăm hiện nay có hơn 70 lễ hội lớn, nhỏ được lưu truyền, phổ biến trong cộng đồng ở cả hai tôn giáo Bàlamôn và Bàni

 

in the current Cham cultural heritage, there are more than 70 festivals handed down, popular in the community in both Brahmin and Bani religions. Each religion has a system  of rituals and festivals with beliefs suitable to the purposes and principles of religion. For the Cham to follow the Brahman religion (Cham Ahier) in addition to the rituals, festivals stretching over the time of the year, but the largest and gathering many elements of folklore, especially the Kate festival.

From centuries ago until the first half of the twentieth century, Cham people often performed many rituals at Po Sah Inu tower, because this is a group of ancient temple towers in the south of the last part of the Kingdom of Champa, serving for religious activities of the Cham people in the South. From the middle of the twentieth century, the ritual was increasingly sparse due to the effects of two long and fierce wars and other geopolitical conditions; On the other hand, more importantly, the towers in the group are also increasingly degraded and are on the way of collapse, few people dare to approach them. Occasionally some Cham people from many places come to visit and worship, sometimes they go in groups of up to a few dozen people. After 1975, a part of Cham people in Ham Tri, Ham Phu and Ma Lam communes in Ham Thuan Bac district and Cham people in Phan Rang often came here to worship; however, the number of attendees is small, the rituals are simplified because of economic and transportation difficulties.

In the last decades of the twentieth century, the Po Sah Inu tower was gradually repaired and embellished by the State, from reinforcing anti-collapse to restoration to restore its original shape. After more than three decades of continuous renovation and restoration, the ancient architecture has been returned to its charming shape, many civil works have been built to promote the value of the ancient ruins. At the same time, the need to restore the Kate festival as before was urgent but must be based on the original and scientific basis. The main purpose is to meet the needs of rituals, beliefs and spirituality for the majority of Cham people in Binh Thuan and other places, on the other hand, from cultural heritage will become a special cultural product for tourism development.

In 2005, the Kate festival at Po Sah Inu tower was researched and restored successfully by Binh Thuan Museum with all processes of time, space, content and form, ensuring the requirements of the people’s culture. space. The project has been commented by the Council of dignitaries and the local Cham community on each content both in culture and religious beliefs. They see it as the sacred responsibility of the community to their grandparents and ancestors and when the festival takes place is an opportunity for people to return to their roots and roots; in the end they are the hosts and also the participants from beginning to end. After the practice, the Kate festival was officially launched at Po Sah Inu tower with the participation of thousands of people, including Cham people from all over the world along with visitors from all over the world to attend and enjoy the ceremony. Meeting in the longing and anticipation.

According to traditional customs, in addition to the local rituals serving the Kate festival, at Po Sah Inu tower, the order of the following steps and rituals must be carried out: Erection of theaters, escort, procession of palanquin, open the tower door, bathe the idol, wear clothes for the god and finally the ceremony. In the above-mentioned rituals, each Kate must be performed. Particularly Song Sung, then a few years to perform once. Years ago, after the construction of the cinema was completed, the ceremony of cessation in the precinct of the tower was conducted. Regarding the religious philosophy, as well as the Cham folk beliefs with the concept of performing the ceremony of extortion, is to clear the sky, the rivers and streams from the sea to the source, pray for a calm sea breeze, good rain and wind, people and pets proliferate.

When the logistics was finished, the next morning on the 1st of July, Cham calendar, the procession adjusted the ceremony, the ceremony, the end, the parasols, the flag ... and the sound  of the Saranai, gong drums, Paranung and gongs were taken    to the bustle and holy, the time for the procession to invite the procession of costumes to depart to the tower. During the long journey of welcoming the palanquin to the tower, the delegation showed visitors and the public the unique characteristics of the festival, through colorful costumes, enjoying the dance through different types. musical instrument and fan dance, drum dance, folk dance. On both sides of the road, the procession of the procession passed, thousands of local people, Cham people from all over the province and abroad as well as domestic and foreign tourists watched the procession of the procession into the tower very crowded, excited, making the atmosphere The festival is more bustling and vibrant. While the procession of the procession is showing the traditional folk beauty imbued with the Cham identity on the way to the tower, at the door of the main tower, there is a fan dance group performing dance dances to greet and greet. welcome the procession to the rhythm of the music band. The scene of Po Sah Inu tower is often quiet and calm, standing in the middle of a windy year-round hill, now it suddenly becomes warm and bustling to welcome the festival with generations of Cham people and grandchildren returning to celebrate.

At the end of the procession, the ceremony bodies with hundreds of people gathered in front of the main tower to witness the opening of the tower. The monk in costumes stood at the door of the tower offering a tray of offerings including eggs, tea, betel nut, and praying for Mrs. Po Sah Inu and 18 deities to open the tower. In the main role, the Great Monk slowly walked towards the entrance of the Main Tower to do some movements and recite some mantras to tell Po Sah Inu and the gods to open the tower. Two doors were opened to the sides, the altar of Linga

- Yoni in the heart of the tower appeared dim, sparkling in the incense smoke emanating.

After the opening ceremony of the tower ended, the ceremony of Linga - Yoni altar started. In fact, this is the bathing ceremony of Linga - Yoni pedestal symbolizing the god Siva, the god of worship in the main tower from the 8th century to the present. The bathing ceremony of Linga - Yoni altar was carefully performed, showing the respect of the Cham community to the mascot, a sacred vitality that they considered the source of human beings, creating all births. flourishing to maintain the lineage and all things, and it is also the place of worship Po Sah Inu.

In the sacred, mysterious setting, amidst the cessation of frankincense smoke, before the loud sound of the guitar, the hymn of hymn and the prayer of the Elder Monk; merging into that sacred atmosphere, the Elder Mon prayed: “... We respectfully pray for the blessing of the villagers from their illnesses, may the gods eliminate the sins of the villagers ...”; Mrs. Bong (Muk Pajau - a community dance dancer) now seems to be sympathetic to the spirit; Her role now as a sublime, mystical character along with the mysterious movements to pray for divine blessing, the community’s commitment in multiplying, maintaining the race, giving good things and happiness for people on earth.  The ceremony ended after Kadhar Sensei (the monk practicing folklore) finished the chanting. Next is the ritual of wearing  the statue of worshiping Linga - Yoni,  with the coordination   of music and the Master of the Ceremony, Mrs. Bong and the closing ceremony of the costume.

Finally, the Great Ritual Ceremony: When the dignitaries are performing the ritual in the heart of the main tower, outside, in front of the door of the tower are dozens of deck tray with all kinds of offerings including: goat meat, chicken, rice. , soup, banh tet, tier cake, gingerbread, biscuit, tea, bananas, betel nut, tobacco, tea, wine ... of all families, the family is ready to wait for the signal to end in the tower. to dedicate offerings to Po Sah Inu and the invited gods. At the beginning of the ceremony, Elder Kadhar played the guitar and sang a hymn inviting Mrs. Po Sah Inu and 18 deities worshiped by the Cham people to enjoy the ceremony and bless them, the maintenance of the community of good health, fresh crops. good and affluent life (besides Elder Kadhar, there are 3 other Kadhar Sensei sitting behind the piano and singing hymns). The sound of the harp with the hymn lyrics and the hand-knapping gestures make the ceremony more solemn. Looking at the walking patterns and the faces of the people attending the ceremony, it seems they were spiritually satisfied through the series of rituals they had just gone through. At the end of the ceremony of thanksgiving, the female fan and male Paranung dance group performed the Cham folk dances in a rhythmic and flexible manner in the Saranai, the busy and bustling Ginang drums to bid farewell to them. God and tourists from near and far to attend the festival and see you again in the Kate festival next years.

Related Post

Sample Plan