The 6th Chăm Ethnic Cultural Festival in Ninh Thuận will take place from September 27 to 29. VNA Photo

NINH THUẬN - The 6th Chăm Ethnic Cultural Festival in Ninh Thuận will take place in Phan Rang - Tháp Chàm city in Ninh Thuận province from September 27 to 29 with the participation of artisans, artists, performers, and athletes from the Chăm ethnic community across nine provinces and cities.

With the theme "Preserving and Promoting the Chăm Ethnic Cultural Identity in the Era of Integration and National Development," the festival is co-organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism and the People's Committee of Ninh Thuận province.

Ninh Thuận, Bình Định, Phú Yên, Bình Thuận, An Giang, Tây Ninh, Quảng Nam, Đà Nẵng City and HCM City will participate in the festival.

Nguyễn Thị Hải Nhung, director of the Department of Ethnic Culture under the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, stated that the festival is an opportunity to honour and introduce the traditional cultural values of the Chăm people to both domestic and international audiences.

Through this, the event aims to promote the image of Việt Nam as a culturally rich country, with unity and harmony among ethnic groups, demonstrating the Party and State's commitment to preserving and promoting the cultural values of the Chăm people.

It also seeks to raise awareness and responsibility in building and developing Vietnamese culture and people.

The festival will also contribute to strengthening the country's position internationally, promoting the potential and advantages of the southern and south-central provinces to businesses and tourists, both domestic and foreign, attracting investment in tourism, and accelerating the development of key tourist areas in these regions.

According to the organisers, the festival will feature a wide range of cultural activities, including performances and presentations of traditional Chăm festivals and rituals, exhibitions showcasing and promoting cultural and tourism products, as well as local culinary traditions, and demonstrations of traditional Chăm handicrafts such as brocade weaving and pottery making.

There will also be a public art festival, a traditional Chăm costume showcase, an exhibition titled "The Unique Culture of the Chăm People within the Vietnamese Cultural Community," a photography exhibition on the vibrant culture of the Chăm people alongside the nation's development, and an exhibition of fine art related to Chăm culture.

In addition, the festival will host traditional sports activities such as competitions in six disciplines, including tug-of-war, stick pushing, men's mini football, men's volleyball, women's water carrying, and cross-country running for both men and women.

As part of the festival, a tourism conference titled "Promoting Chăm Cultural Heritage in Tourism Development" will also be held, featuring participation from cultural and tourism experts, as well as cultural researchers, to discuss ways to connect cultural heritage with local tourism development.

The Pô Klong Garai king statue is a national treasure in Ninh Thuận. VNA Photo

The opening ceremony will take place on the evening of September 27 at the 16/4 Square in Phan Rang - Tháp Chàm city.

The highlight of the opening programme will be the announcement and recognition of two national treasures - the Pô Klong Garai king statue and the Phước Thiện stele - both part of the Chăm cultural heritage in Ninh Thuận.

The Pô Klong Garai king statue, a national treasure, is a sandstone sculpture consisting of a Yoni pedestal and a Linga pillar with a deity's face.

It is worshiped by the Chăm people at the Pô Klong Garai temple in Đô Vinh ward in Phan Rang - Tháp Chàm city, and was constructed in the 13th-14th centuries.

The Phước Thiện stele, discovered in 1992 in Phước Thiện hamlet, has ancient Chăm script inscribed on both sides. Based on the content and script style, scientists have dated the stele to the late 8th century.

The organisers stated that preparations for the festival are progressing on schedule, ensuring that the event will take place as planned. - VNS