Gawai Dayak

Gawai Day or Gawai Dayak, a festival celebrated in Sarawak on 1 June every year is both a religious and social occasion. The word "Gawai" means a ritual or festival whereas "Dayak" is a collective name for the native ethnics of Sarawak; Iban, Bidayuh, Kayan, Kenyah, Kelabit, Lun Bawang and others. Thus, "Gawai Dayak" literally means "Dayak Festival". Dayak would visit their friends and relatives on this day. Such visit is more known as "ngabang" in Iban dialect. Those far away would receive greeting cards.

It all started back in 1957 in a radio forum held by Mr Ian Kingsley, a radio programme organiser. This generated a lot of interest among the Dayak community.

The mode of celebration varies from place to place. Preparation starts early. "Tuak" (rice wine) is brewed (at least one month before the celebration) and traditional delicacies like "penganan" (cakes from rice flour, sugar and coconut milk) prepared. As the big day approaches, everyone will be busy with the general cleaning and preparing food and cakes. On Gawai Eve, glutinous rice is steamed in bamboo (ngelulun pulut). In the longhouse, new mats will be laid out on the "ruai" (an open gallery which runs through the entire length of the longhouse). The walls of most "bilik" (rooms) and the "ruai" are decorated with Pua Kumbu (traditional blanket). A visit to clean the graveyard is also conducted and offerings offered to the dead. After the visit it is important to bathe before entering the longhouse to ward off bad luck.

The celebration starts on the evening of 31 May. In most Iban longhouses, it starts with a ceremony called Muai Antu Rua (to cast away the spirit of greed), signifying the non-interference of the spirit of bad luck in the celebration. Two children or men each dragging a "chapan" (winnowing basket) will pass each family's room. Every family will throw some unwanted article into the basket. The unwanted articles will be tossed to the ground from the end of the longhouse for the spirit of bad luck.

Around 6 pm or as the sun sets, "miring" (offering ceremony) will take place. Before the ceremony, "gendang rayah" (ritual music) is performed. The Feast Chief thank the gods for the good harvest, ask for guidance, blessings and long life as he waves a cockerel over the offerings. He, then, sacrifices the cockerel and a little blood is also used together with the offerings.

Once the offering ceremony is done, dinner is then served at the "ruai". Just before midnight, a procession up and down the "ruai" seven times called Ngalu Petara (welcoming the spirit gods) is performed. During this procession, a beauty pageant to choose the festival's beauty queen and king (Kumang & Keling Gawai) is sometimes conducted. Meanwhile, drinks, traditional cakes and delicacies are served.

At midnight, the gong is beaten to call for the celebrants to attention. The longhouse Chief ("tuai rumah") or Festival Chief will lead everyone to drink the "Ai Pengayu" (normally "tuak" for long life) and at the same time wishing each other "gayu-guru, gerai-nyamai" (long life, health and prosperity). The celebration by now will get merrier. Some will dance to the traditional music played. Others will sing the "pantun" (poems). In urban areas, Dayak will organise gatherings at community centres or restaurants to celebrate the evening.

Other activities that may follow the next few days include cock-fighting matches, blowpipe and "ngajat" competitions. On this day, 1 June, homes of Dayaks is opened to visitors/guests.

Traditionally, when the guests arrive at the longhouse, they will be received with the "ai tiki" to welcome the guests. From time to time, guests will be served "tuak". This would be called "nyibur temuai" or literally means watering of guests.

Christian Dayak normally attend a church mass service to thank God for the good harvest.

Gawai Dayak celebration may last for several days. Visitors/Guests are most welcome to the homes of the Dayak during the festival. It is also during this time of the year that many Dayak weddings take place, as it is one of the rare occasions that all the members of the community comes home to the ancestral long house.

Up till 1962, British colonial government still refused to give recognition to the Dayak Day. Gawai Dayak was formally gazetted on 25 September 1964 as a public holiday in place of Sarawak Day. It was first celebrated on 1st June 1965 and became a symbol of unity, aspiration and hope for the Dayak community. Today, it is an integral part of Dayak social life. It is a thanksgiving day marking good harvest and a time to plan for the new farming season or activities ahead.

See also

* List of Harvest Festivals