Fret not, you can still celebrate the Harvest Festival online

KOTA KINABALU: This year, Pesta Kaamatan or Harvest Festival is a no go in Sabah due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, it is not stopping the people from organising other events to capture the mood and essence of the festival.

People can take part in traditional dances, reading in the Kadazandusun language and the much awaited Sugandoi (singing) competition online.

For the Sugandoi competition, it is divided into two categories – children and adults.

Participants need to submit a video of them belting out their favourite Kadazandusun songs while wearing traditional costumes.

One of the organisers, Evaritus Gungkit, said participants must send their entries to the person in charge – Jinus Juis at 019-533 0675 via the Telegram application by May 25.

“The finals will be conducted online at 2pm on May 31,” he said.

The winner of the adult category will receive RM6,000 with a trophy and certificate while the second and third placings will get RM4,000 and RM3,000, respectively.

There are seven consolation prizes and a best performance award.

For the children’s category, the winner will get RM1,500 while second and third place winners will receive RM1,000 and RM800 with trophies and certificates.

Two consolation prizes and a Bintang Popular prize will also be awarded.

Gungkit said the competition would be held online as they hoped to continue the annual tradition of Kaamatan amid the global pandemic situation.

Apart from that, an online reading competition in the native Kadazandusun language will be held for children between the ages of 10 and 12.

Organiser Steve Johnny Mositun, who is also Kadazandusun Cultural Association youth council chairman, said the event was important for children to learn their mother tongue.

“I have yet to master the language and I’m still learning. That is why I think it is important we try to keep these languages alive by having these programmes,” he said.

Participants will be given a text to read and they have to send a video recording of themselves reading the text.

The deadline for the competition is May 25.

The judges will include professionals, including Kadazandusun deejays.

For those who love performing traditional dances, they can showcase their talents by entering an online dance competition organised by KDCA Cultural Village.

According to information from the Facebook page – KDCA Cultural Village KCV RW – those who can do the Sumazau Penampang and Sasau Papar are encouraged to take part.

Winners stand a chance to win RM700, RM500 and RM300.

Deadline for video entries is May 31.