The word Gawai’ originated from the Iban language that means ritual or festival, whilst Dayak refers to the native ethnic groups of Sarawak – the Iban, Bidayuh, Kayan, Kenyah, Kelabit, Murut, Lun Bawang – and many more.
Gawai Dayak is celebrated to mark the end of the padi (rice) harvesting season and also a time of togetherness, a mark of gratitude for god and nature for the productive harvest, as well as prayer for a peaceful and prosperous future.
Common events during the celebration are Kumang (Queen) and Keling (King) Gawai contests, Ngirup Ai Pengayu (Long Life Drink), traditional dancing and overall merrymaking.
Preparations for the Gawai festival start very early, with the brewing of tuak (traditional rice wine) and the making of traditional delicacies such as the kuih penganan (hat shaped cake), kuih sarang semut (fishnet-like crispy snack), kuih chuan (crispy flower snack), pulut lulun (glutinous rice steamed in bamboo), manuk daun ubi lulun (chicken and tapioca shoot steamed in bamboo), and many more.
After the general cleaning of the longhouse, new mats will be laid out on the ruai (the open area which runs through the entire longhouse), with the walls are adorned with the pua kumbu (traditional handwoven fabric) display on the wall and placed on the table as table cloth.
Gawai celebrations at the longhouse offer celebrants a great time to wear traditional costumes. The women would wear the ngepan, a traditional costume for welcoming guests to the longhouse, wearing the sugu tinggi (Iban maiden headgear) as hair accessory. The men would wear cawat or sirat (loin cloth) with necklaces, armlets and anklets and a headgear made of peacock feathers.
The celebration typically starts on the evening of 31st May with the Muai Antu Rua (casting away the spirit of greed), signifying the chasing away of the spirit of bad luck.
Traditionally each family at the longhouse would throw unwanted articles into a chapan (winnowing basket) that is dragged by two men as they pass each room along the longhouse. The unwanted articles will then be tossed to the ground from the end of the longhouse.
As the sun sets, a miring (offering ceremony) will take place, starting with the beating of the gendang rayah (ritual music).
The Tuai Rumah (Longhouse Chief) thanks the gods for the good harvest, and asks for blessings, guidance and long life as he waves a cockerel over the offerings before ending the miring ceremony. Dinner is then served and just before midnight, a procession of young maidens and warriors in traditional garb go up and down the ruai seven times, and this is known as the Ngalu Petara (welcoming the spirit of the gods).
At midnight, the gong is sounded and the Tuai Rumah leads everyone in the longhouse in a toast with Ai Pengayu (a special kind of tuak) and wish each other “Gayu Guru, Gerai Nyamai” which translates to “Long Life, Health and Prosperity”.
The celebration turns merrier as some will dance to traditional music being played. Some will sing and recite their traditional poems (pantun or ramban), while some would perform the traditional dance form called Ngajat to symbolise the joy of a good harvest.
Yang Dipertua Negeri Sarawak Tun Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, in conjunction with the 2024 Gawai Dayak Day Celebration, wished Selamat Hari Gawa to all those who are of Dayak descent, especially throughout Sarawak.
He said; “We in Malaysia, especially in Sarawak, are really lucky because we are made up of different races and different religions. In such a diverse situation, we respect each other’s religious and cultural customs with full courtesy. This is proven when it has become a tradition to celebrate Gawai Dayak in Sarawak, celebrated not only by the Dayaks but also by all Sarawakians regardless of race and religion.
Visiting each other when the festive season arrives becomes an interesting atmosphere in our country, especially in Sarawak. This reflects the closeness of our relationship as people of various races and various religions or beliefs. “I am confident that the new generation will continue this tradition to ensure that it remains to be inherited by the next generation.”
He called on those celebrating to become community development agents by spreading the importance of education in their respective communities and villages. With the awareness of the importance of education, society does not lag behind the current of progress. There are various Education initiatives planned by the Sarawak government led by the Honorable Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Abang Haji Openg, the Premier to make Sarawak a developed region by the year 2030. With the establishment of 5 higher education institutions owned by the Sarawak Government (iCats University College, Sarawak Skills, Centexs, Universiti Teknologi Sarawak (UTS) and Laila Taib College) and 5 international schools (Yayasan Sarawak International School in Petra Jaya, Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri) which also belongs to the Sarawak Government will definitely be able to help the community take steps to ensure that our children in schoosl are prepared to realise the various initiatives through education.
“By mastering knowledge, we will master various technologies including green technology, AI and so on listed in Sarawak’s Post-Covid-19 2030 Development Strategy. With enough skilled local human resources, we will not depend on foreign experts in the context of Sarawak Development. On the other hand, we will take advantage of local expertise to elevate Sarawak as a developed state by 2030. That is our shared dream that we must realize with the spirit of belonging in diversity professionally and prudently,” he said.
“Along with that, we should not use poverty as an excuse to deny our children education. Consider poverty as a challenge and not an obstacle to keep falling behind and always blame the situation. Now we witness various assistance and facilities have been provided by the Government to ensure that every citizen in this country is not left behind to pursue knowledge up to the university level,” he added.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wished the people of Sabah and Sarawak a happy Kaamatan Festival (which falls on May 31) and Gawai Day (which falls on June 1).
He said both festivals can be the basis for the spirit of unity and harmony for all Malaysians despite their different ethnicities, races (groups) or races.
“Hopefully this celebration will also fuel feelings of love and lasting peace, as well as provide sustenance and prosperity for the country. “Kotobian Tadau Tagazo Do Kaamatan and Gayu Guru Gerai Nyamai to all the people of Sabah and Sarawak who are celebrating,” he said.
The Kaamatan Festival, also known as the Harvest Festival, is celebrated in Sabah while Hari Gawai in Sarawak falls on Saturday and both festivals are celebrated as a sign of gratitude after the end of the harvest season.
The Management and Staff of BusinessToday Wishes all those celebrating a Joyous Kaamatan Festival and Selamat Hari Gawai.
