The Ponagar festival 2015 was kicked off on May 8-11 in Vinh Phuoc ward in the central province of Khanh Hoa.
Attending the ceremony were Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Nguyễn Tấn Tuân; Vice Chairman of the People’s Council Lê Xuân Thân, local authorities’ representatives and thousands of people inside and outside the locality.
The Ba Ponagar Tower Cluster was built in the middle of 8th century to worship goddess Yan Po Nagar, or Goddess Thien Y A Na. It still keeps 28 literature items dating back from 784 to the end of 13th century and 14 historically-significant title conferral documents released by the Nguyen Dynasty.
The tower cluster is specifically valued in the architecture, sculpture and statues so it has been recognized as a national historical cultural relic site. In 2013, the Ponagar Festival was recognized as the national intangible cultural heritage.
The Ponagar festival has been regarded as the biggest cultural event held by Cham people in Khanh Hoa province for paying tribute to goddess Yan Po Nagar who taught locals how to do farming, weaving and knitting… and praying for the country's peace and prosperity for the whole year.
Source: phatgiao.org.vn
