It’s also the man festival for the new rice crop, and a time when childless couples entreat Ponuga for his blessing so that they can conceive.

What happens at Kate reflects the age-old traditions of the Cham community and the characteristics of Cham culture, and so things like the towers, objects of worship, costumes, musical instruments and religious songs play a central role.

Usually Cham palays (villages) start getting ready for the year’s biggest event four months in advance.

The elderly prepare the temple offerings, young men practice pranung (drum beating) and a wind instrument called the saranai, and young women rehearse the traditional dances that involve carrying a large fan or balancing a jar on their heads.

Then the palays hold competitions to select the best dancers and musicians for the Kate rituals at the Cham towers.

The festival usually lasts for three days. The first day sees a procession honouring Pnuga and a ritualistic meeting between the Cham and Raglai people at the temple of Kanok.

Built in 1942, the temple stands in Huu Duc, a hamlet in Ninh Phuoc District. This is where Ponuga’s clothing is formally presented. She is the Cham people’s progenitor, the one who taught them how to grow rice and cotton, weave fabric, and organise the festival.

Day two is a really big affair and centres on the towers of Ponuga, Po Klong Garai and Porome. It begins with a procession of Ponuga’s dress and ornament presentations to the towers, led by elderly and prestigious magicians.

Once there, one of the magicians begins the door-opening ritual called Poh Bang while his assistants sing a hymn. This is accompanied by the rhythms of the ancient Kanhi and speeches about the power of the people.

Other rituals include washing the statues with mineral water and dressing the figures before the offering of wine in worship.

The festive activities officially begin outside when the ceremonies in the temples end. The proceedings last throughout the day and into the night, ending with an ad-lib performance of music and poetry involving many people.

On the third day the action moves to My Nghiep, another village in Ninh Phuoc District known for its handmade tho cam (ethnic fabric).

Called Caklaing in the Cham language, My Nghiep lies a dozen kilometres Southeast of Phan Rang, the capital of Ninh Thuan Province. According to legend, this was the place where King Po Klong Garai was born.

In the Kate Festival, the people of My Nghiep make offerings to their ancestors and to the village god, the founder of the local garment trade. They also play games and compete in football, singing and weaving, and it’s very interesting to watch.

Kate is an exciting time and provides an occasion for people from near and far to share the same feast and tread the same path.

This year it begins on October 10, towards the end of a national Cham sporting competition starting October 4 that will involve 600 Cham athletes from Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, HCM City, Dong Na, Binh Duong, Tay Ninh, Phu Yen, Binh Dinh and An Giang.