Lively Ponagar Temple Festival

Ponagar Temple Festival 2024 took place at Ponagar Temple from April 28 to May 1 (lunar March 21-23). This year’s festival time frame was coincident with the occasion of Reunification Day and Labor Day; therefore, it attracted a large number of local people and domestic and international tourists. The festival took place solemnly and safely thanks to careful preparation. 

Ponagar Temple is crowded with people during Ponagar Temple Festival 2024

The number of local people and tourists attending this year’s festival were estimated to increase by about 50% compared to last year. As reported, 100 groups of pilgrims with more than 5,000 people had registered to join the 2024 festival. During the 4 days of the festival, Ponagar Temple received more than 100,000 pilgrims, residents, and tourists, including a large number of Cham people from the provinces in the region. The group of Thap Hong Lien (Phuoc Nam Commune, Thuan Nam District, Ninh Thuan Province) with nearly 20 pilgrims prepared offerings, attended Ponagar Temple Festival 2024 and prayed to Holy Mother Thien Y A Na for favorable weather, good harvest, and well-being for the their families.

Cham women performing Cham dance

According to Dinh Van Thieu - Deputy Chairman of Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee, Head of Ponagar Festival organization committee, Ponagar Temple and Ponagar Temple Festival are a pride and also the responsibility of the authorities and people of Khanh Hoa for preserving, promoting the values and honoring the province’s cultural, spiritual and traditional beauties. With its significant and unique values in history, culture, architecture, and art, Ponagar Temple was recognized as a national historical and cultural monument in 1979. Ponagar Temple Festival was recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2012 and is underway for submission as a special national monument.

People with offerings waiting to express their gratitude to Holy Mother Thien Y A Na

Even though the festival lasted many days under hot weather and received a large number of participants, the work on security, order, fire prevention, and food safety were well carried out thanks to careful preparation. Ponagar Temple Festival 2024 took place in the context that Khanh Hoa Province and the provincial cultural sector have been putting a special attention on linking heritage promotion and sustainable tourism development and making monuments lively and popular. The relevant units closely cooperated to ensure the success for the 2024 festival and create favorable conditions for the pilgrims and visitors to attend the festival. 

Cham people praying for good things

The worship of Mother Goddesses has played an important role in Vietnam’s culture since ancient times. In Khanh Hoa, this religious belief features an interaction with the worship of the Mother of the land of Cham people, shown through Ponagar Temple Festival. Ponagar Temple Festival is organized annually as an opportunity for everyone to express their gratitude to Holy Mother Thien Y A Na of Vietnamese people and the Mother of the land of Cham people and pray for peace, prosperity and happiness.

Giang Dinh
Translated by H.N