Gawai mood still felt amidst strict compliance with SOPs under CMCO
SIBU: The Gawai Dayak mood can still be felt, despite it being celebrated during the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) period.
For the villagers of Rumah Joseph Jarrau at Tanjung Bekakap in Batang Lebaan near here, the festive atmosphere is still there, despite the restrictions under the standard operating procedures (SOPs) outlined under the CMCO that must be observed.
“This year, we celebrate Gawai Dayak while complying with the set SOPs, which we know are enforced for the sake of our health and safety,” said villager Charlie Banyah yesterday, which was the second day of Gawai
Dayak celebration.
Nevertheless, he admitted that maintaining proper social distancing during the ‘ miring’ (seeking of blessings) ceremony was ‘a bit awkward’.
“We had to limit the number of those involved in the ‘miring’ ceremony to only 20 people at one time.”
Meanwhile, fellow villager Kamila Galau said the Gawai spirit was ‘ still alive’, although certain practices had to be adapted to the SOPs.
“Close family members still get to gather for the celebration.
“On the eve of Gawai, we had dinner together and after that, we all waited for the clock to strike midnight for the ceremonial ‘Air
Pengayu’, where the longhouse chieftain led the ‘tuak’ (rice wine) toast that signified our wish for better times ahead,” he said.
A week before Gawai Dayak, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas announced that the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee would not allow house-to-house or longhouse-to-longhouse visiting during the celebration, under the SOP to stop further transmission of Covid-19.
Gathering was only allowed on the first day of the celebration and limited to only 20 people at one time, comprising occupants of the same residence, or residents of the same longhouse.