Do you know ...

about the Kaul festival?

> Pesta Kaul Mukah, to mark the traditional festival of Kaul observed by the Melanau in Sarawak, will be held from April 1 to 30 at Taman Kuala Dana in Mukah, Sarawak. > Kaul was once a religious ceremony through which the Melanau appeaseappeased the s irrits of the seea, land, forestsf and farms. It is a ritual oof pu ificcation and thanksgiving, besidess seeking blessinggs and a bountiful catch for fisheermen. These days, it does not have such religious siignificance but is celebratedd as an integral part of Melanauu culture.

It markss the start of the Melanau calendar and the ennd of the monsoon season. > Accordinng to the Tourism Malaysia website, Pesta Kaul Mukah will featuree a giant swing calleed a tibow.

Brave young men would launch themselves from the swing, hanging on only to a rope.

> The festival will also see a display of traditional costumes and food.

Examples of Melanau delicacies are tebaloi (sago crackers) or umai

(raw fish marinated witth lime juicce and chillies). Umai is Mukah’s signatures dish,di created by Melanau fishermen who wanted to avoid cooking on board their boats to prevent fires.

> Sago is very much part of the Melanau way of life. A staple like rice, it is consumed in many ways. > One highlight of the festival will be the serahang procession which features a basket made from sago leaves and raised on a bamboo pole.

> Based on 2014 data, there are about 132,000 Melanau people, makingki up 6% off SSarawak’sk’ population.