Rumah Adam residents hold four-day Gawai celebration

MARUDI: Rumah Adam residents held a grand Gawai Dayak celebration this year, which ran from May 31 to June 3.

Members of Youth Section Committee held various activities, games and competitions to enliven the festive atmosphere, starting on the evening of May 31 while waiting for the ‘ Ngirup Air Pengayu’ (welcome drink) at midnight. Among the activities were a Young Beauty Competition (Kumang and Keling Competition) for children, fancy dress competition, and karaoke singing competition.

The children were not overlooked as they too had the chance to join in the merrymaking with competitions such as blowing balloons, cracker- eating, filling bottles with water, and a spoonandegg race. Meanwhile, the adults participated in competitions such as rice wine drinking, hot coffee drinking, noodle- eating and a tug- of-war.

The longhouse also held a ‘ Niki Pengabang’ ( welcoming visitors) event and a Ranyai tree-felling event.

In the Kumang Gawai, Danisha Entia Bulan was declared the winner, while Andreana Noli Kanyan and Magdelina Sema Guan were first and second runners-up respectively. In the Keling competition, Dimas Jimmy was declared the winner, followed by Jayden Rawing Stanly at second place, and Daylon Kanya Renggie, third.

The Gawai celebration was graced by the longhouse chief Tr Adam Ongie.