Local authorities and mass organisations have created favourable conditions for Balamon followers to organise the Kate festival and cultural, art and sport activities during the festive days.

The festival was organised at the foot of Poshanu towers and drew the participation of Cham artists across the province.

On this occasion, representatives of local authorities visited and presented gifts to a number of Balamon dignitaries and outstanding Cham families.

Binh Thuan is home to more than 30,000 Cham people, becoming the province with second largest number of Cham people in the country.

Binh Thuan and Ninh Thuan have broadcast TV and radio programmes in the Cham language and used the language at some primary schools in the areas inhabited by Cham people.

Ninh Thuan province now has more than 67,600 Cham people, representing 11.69 percent of the province’s population. Provincial authorities have spent more than VND30 billion to restore and preserve Cham towers, and more than VND18 billion to build the craft villages and a stadium of Cham people.

Meanwhile, the 3^rd National Sports Games of the Cham ethnic minority opened in Phan Thiet city of central Binh Thuan province on September 28.

Nearly 300 athletes from seven provinces, including An Giang, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Binh Thuan, Phu Yen, Ninh Thuan and Quang Nam, competed in eight events at the games. These events included football, volleyball, tug-of-war, water-carrying, stick thrusting, crossbow shooting, marathon and stilt walking. Brocade weaving and pottery making competitions was also held on the occasion.