KSMC to hold pre-Gawai festival at Aiman Mall from May 14-20
KUCHING: Kota Samarahan Municipal Council ( KSMC), together with Dayak-based nongovernmental organisations ( NGOs) as well as tertiary institutions and government agencies will be holding a preGawai festival at Aiman Mall in Kota Samarahan from May 14-20.
The event, themed ‘ Segulai, Sejalai, Sepenemu’ ( Working together in unity and common understanding) will include a Gawai Dayak bazaar selling mostly native food and related items in conjunction with the Gawai Dayak celebration on June 1.
The grand welcome on May 20 will feature cultural performances, a Keling and Kumang competition, live bands and popular Dayak artistes.
The Keling and Kumang competition’s preliminary round will be on May 19 with the final scheduled on May 20.
At the event organising committee meeting held at KSMC yesterday, organising chairwoman Florince Christy said the soft launch is scheduled at 10am on May 14 while the grand opening ceremony is at 3pm on May 20.
KSMC chairman Dato Peter Minos will officiate at the May 14 soft launch, said Florince, adding that the organising committee would invite Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas to officiate at the grand launch on May 20.
The Gawai Dayak bazaar will sell both halal and non- halal food at appropriate sections of the event venue, she said, adding that Dayak- based NGOs were among those invited to trade at the bazaar.
Meanwhile, Minos, who is also event advisor, said KSMC would also hold festivals in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri which falls on June 25 and the Chinese New Year celebration next year.
Minos added that the most auspicious date as far as KSMC and residents of Samarahan are concerned is Nov 11 – Kota Samarahan Day – to mark the elevation of Samarahan District Council (SDC) to KSMC.
The meeting yesterday was to allocate jobs to various sub- committees and among those present were Minos and representatives of various Dayakbased NGOs and government agencies.