From Chinese New Year to Hari Raya, we Malaysians love to celebrate the rich diversity of our beautiful nation! So it comes to no surprise that on the shores of East Malaysia, Harvest Festival (known respectively as Kaamatan and Gawai to Sabahans and Sarawakians) is one of the most celebrated events of the year. Get hyped with these 5 compelling reasons why Kaamatan/Gawai is the most happening annual celebration in East Malaysia:
1. Fascinating Cultural Traditions
In Sabah, Kaamatan is a Kadazan-Dusun term for "harvest" and is celebrated for the whole month of May. The celebration stems from a legend where Kinoingan, a God, sacrificed his daughter, Huminodun, over a paddy field to save his people from a great famine. Various cultural activities occur throughout the season, but the most fascinating tradition would be the Unduk Ngadau beauty pageant where a maiden is crowned queen to commemorate the spirit of Huminodun!
Meanwhile in Sarawak, Gawai Dayak used to be a more religious celebration for the Dayak tribes. The tribe would give thanks to their god known as "Petara" after every harvest and before starting rice cultivation for the next season. Today, the Gawai festival is one that celebrates unity, aspiration, and hope by many different ethnic groups such as Iban, Bidayuh, Kenyah, Kelabit, and Murut.
2. The dancing is lit!
Trust us, when East Malaysians start dancing, the parties are only just getting started. In Sabah, the Sumazau is the must-do traditional folk dance of the Kadazan Dusun. The dance is inspired by eagle flying patterns witnessed by farmers in the field during harvest season.
Meanwhile, Magunatip, also known as the Bamboo Dance, gets faster and faster as the dance goes on, leaving both the audience and dancers out of breath! We dare you to give it a try!
In Sarawak, the traditional dance Ngajat is performed during the Gawai celebration.The male dancers wear large feathers as part of their headgear, hold an ornate and long shield in their hand with chains, beads and a loincloth called the ‘cawat’. The female dancers have an elaborate headdress, chains, beads and a ‘dress’ that reaches to below their knees with intricate weaving. It is an elegant dance to behold, even as an audience member!
