80 contingents expected at ‘Mardi Gras’ Gawai procession

BINTULU: Some 80 contingents from various Dayak organisations and associations in Sarawak including those from Sabah, Brunei and Kalimantan, Indonesia are expected to take part in the ‘ Nitih Daun’ or ‘ Mardi Gras’ procession during the state-level Gawai Dayak celebration in Kuching next month.

The celebration main committee chairman, who is also the Minister of Utilities, Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said this year’s festival will be hosted by the Iban community and the procession on June 22 is expected to see 3,200 participants.

“It will be an interesting event as all participants will be wearing their respective full set of traditional costumes and we will be receiving guests by the river and road,” he said.

According to Dr Rundi, the ‘ Nitih Daun’ would probably be something new to some people especially among the young generation as it was last held in the 1980s.

This event, he added, will be attended by Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, state ministers and grassroots leaders.

He said three main groups of the Dayak community namely Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu have been entrusted by the state government to organise the festival on a rotation basis and last year, it was hosted by the Orang Ulu.

It is estimated that 44 per cent or 1.8 million out of the 2.7 million population in Sarawak is from the Dayak community.

Dr Rundi said this procession will start from the Tun Jugah building making its way towards the Kuching Waterfront on June 22.

“There will be cultural performances and pre- concert events on June 21 at the Waterfront.

“During the procession, there will be performances by the contingents as we walk slowly, and I believe this is something that we have not seen these days,” said Dr Rundi when officiating at the launch of Gawai Bazaar Bintulu 2018 on Tuesday.

In the meantime, he also urged Sarawakians to stand firm behind the Sarawak state government in this new political era.

“We must show our unity and move together with the state government,” he added.

In conjunction with the statelevel Gawai Dayak celebration on June 23, the Gawai Bazaar 2018 programme will be held in Miri, Bintulu, Sibu and Kuching.

In Bintulu the Gawai Bazaar will be held at Bintulu Commerce Square Mall until May 26.