Festival of harmony
‘Festival showcases harmony and unity enjoyed by its people’
Pesta Kaamatan showcases the unity enjoyed by Sabahans.
KOTA KINABALU: Sabahans of different faiths and backgrounds came together for the two-day closing ceremony of the Kaamatan celebration, the first under the new state government.
At the Hongkod Koisaan in Penampang where the main event was held, Sabahans turned up in their traditional ethnic costumes.
State Infrastructure Development Minister Datuk Peter Anthony, who had been tasked to manage the state-level celebration, said the Kaamatan was emblematic of the harmony and unity enjoyed by Sabahans.
He said as Sabah moved towards development, there was a need to ensure that its cultural compass, traditions and indigenous identities were not traded off.
“We unite in our diversity. A modern Sabah must retain its char- acter, identity and tradition.
“This is what gives us the meaning as Sabahans because our languages, traditions and our identities are irreplaceable,” he said in his speech here yesterday.
In a symbolic gesture, Anthony, who is also the Parti Warisan Sabah vice-president, beat the gong seven times to launch the ceremony.
This was then followed by cultural performances and a choir singing local folk songs.
Kaamatan is a one-month celebration which began on May 1 with festivities held at the villages and districts before culminating in the two-day closing ceremony.
During the ceremony, various cultural and traditional sports were held, such as the momolastik (shooting with a slingshot), mioulos (arm wrestling) and rimpanau (walking on stilts).
The last event will be the crowning of this year’s state Unduk Ngadau (Harvest Queen).