Purple Coco's Musings

For countless generations throughout Borneo, local festivals, held anytime after the end of harvest before the new planting season, have commemorated the rice harvest. In Sarawak, it is today officially known as Gawai Dayak while in Sabah it is known as the Tadau Kaamatan. In Sarawak, with the formation of Malaysia, it was decided to set aside a day to commemorate the harvest and celebrate the diversity of the indigenous communities as a symbol of unity, aspiration and hope, to give thanks for the bountiful harvest in the year before and to pray for a productive season ahead. Formally gazetted as a public holiday in place of Sarawak Day, it was first celebrated on 1st June 1965 as Gawai Dayak.

The Iban word Gawai means a ritual or festival whereas Dayak is an informal collective name for the indigenous communities of Sarawak, encompassing the Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu communities although they are all constitutionally separate races with distinct life-style, cultural and linguistic differences. Further communal distinctions are found within the Bidayuh and Orang Ulu communities. While the mode of celebrations varies, what is similar across cultures is the level of hospitality. All guests, regardless of whether they are known to the host or not, are welcomed with Tuak (rice wine), traditional cakes and delicacies while new mats (tikai) are rolled out. The Tuai Gawai or Chief Host will lead the celebrations, while the Tuai Pengabang will lead the contingent of visitors. After the celebrations are over, a ceremony is held to mark the end of the festive season. This includes Ngiling Tikai (rolling up the mats) to show that work must begin again with a new cycle of planting and reaping. Tadau Kaamatan is celebrated by the Kadazandusun ethnic communities who gather each year to give thanks for the harvest, and includes music, dancing, the selection of the Harvest Queen (Unduk Ngadau) and feasting, offers an insight into the Kadazandusun community and its culture.

To showcase the diversity within the Asia Pacific region and Miri, and to create a more inclusive work environment by bringing staff together in an informal, celebratory atmosphere, the company I work for embarked on a program to celebrate local festivals by hosting staff gatherings. The 2006 Harvest Festival (Gawai Ngiling Tikai) was such big event held on Wednesday, 28th June 2006 at Kelab Rekreasi Petroliam, Miri (formerly Kelab Shell Lutong).
The program included a big bang kick-off by Local Band from Cherry Berrie's Pub, visit to community villages lead by Tuai Gawai and Tuai Pengabang's entourage followed by Gong beating, opening of food stations, cultural performances by iban, bidayuh, orang ulu and kadazan ethnic groups, and last but not least, a stage show lead by two local live bands and one band call themselves the "Semadi Nadai Band" (Better than Nothing). The closing ceremony was "ngeranyai" and "ngiling tikai". It was an event, which is celebrated in a way truly unique to Borneo.

Here are some pictures taken on that evening of fun and culture.

Iban longhouse - Ruai (interior view)

Iban longhouse - Ruai (another interior view)

The Sumazau dance performed by our colleagues and their spouse.