Gawai festival preserves identity of Dayak community

SIBU: Gawai Dayak which is celebrated by the Dayak community in Sarawak marks the end of the padi harvesting season and the beginning of a new planting season.

However, in this modern era, the majority of the Dayak community are no longer planting padi, instead, they choose to become oil palm, rubber and black pepper smallholders or work in the public and private sectors.

Even though many Dayaks no longer plant padi and most of them have embraced Islam and Christianity, the festival is still celebrated on June 1 every year.

“In the past, Gawai Dayak was celebrated as a thanksgiving celebration and to express gratitude to ‘Petara’ or God over the abundance of padi yields.

“Now the situation is different. Most of them (the Dayak community) are no longer planting padi and have embraced other religions. Nonetheless, Gawai Day continues to be celebrated to preserve the identity of the Dayak community,” said civil servant Bejau Japang.

According to him, if the Dayak community themselves no longer celebrate the festival which was first held in 1965, their ancestral culture and heritage might fade away.

“We may lose the Ngajat dance, traditional costumes, the art of weaving pua kumbu and beads if we do not celebrate Gawai Dayak. The culture may be forgotten over time and the identity of the Dayak community would disappear and all that is left is only the Dayak name,” he said.

Although Gawai was celebrated by people of different ethnicities, the goal remained the same, namely to express gratitude for abundant sustenance granted by God during the year as well as to pray for good health, Bejau said.

Stiven Maran from Bintangor said Gawai Dayak was the best time for those celebrating to return home for family gatherings at longhouses.

“Those working away from their hometown in the peninsula, Sabah and abroad return to strengthen their familial bond,” he said.

Rudy Anoi from Kuching said Gawai Dayak is also the perfect time to hold auspicious occasions such as wedding reception as well as visit the graves of loved ones.

“With various other occasions held during the Gawai Dayak, they will surely enliven the festival,” he added. — Bernama