KUCHING: The Ibans at Kampung Tabuan Dayak here and those nearby used to gather for the ‘tiang pengingat’ (memorial pole) ritual on Gawai Dayak Eve.
But since many of them have embraced Christianity, they no longer practise the ritual.
But the memorial pole still stands tall today. It is located at Lorong 16 in the village.
Kampung Tabuan Dayak Tuai Rumah Maria Assim, 53, remembers vividly the ‘tiang pengingat’ ritual.
She said on Gawai eve, Iban families would bring along food, drinks and “tuak”(rice wine) to share with others as well as place some at the memorial pole as offering to their gods and ancestors.
“It used to be a very grand event but slowly as the Ibans here converted to Christianity, they no longer gathered at the memorial hole. Most of them are now Anglicans,” said the mother of five.
Maria said after the 80s, the families would be busy preparing food including traditional cakes such as “Kuih Jala” as well as “tuak” for Gawai Dayak.
They would have dinner on Gawai eve in their own houses.
“On Gawai Day (June 1), we would invite family members, friends and those from other villages or “lorong” to celebrate with us. But this was before the onset of Covid-19 pandemic,” she said.
Maria said her family migrated from Sri Aman and had not returned to their longhouse since then.
“My grandparents were the founders of Kampung Tabuan Dayak. My late father was also a Tuai Rumah and a Penghulu. We, the younger ones are also not very sure where our actual longhouse in Sri Aman is.
“So, we don’t go back to the longhouse and have been celebrating Gawai here in Tabuan Dayak,” she said, adding that she also had family members in Lundu.
Maria said the Gawai celebration this year would be quiet as one of her elder sisters in Miri could not visit her due to the travel restrictions.
Maria preparing the ‘Kuih Jala’. 
Some of the traditional food prepared to welcome the Gawai celebration.
“But all the standard operating procedures (SOPs) must be followed as they are for the safety of all.
“Before Covid-19, my family members in Miri and Kuala Lumpur would fly back to help us prepare for Gawai. On Gawai Day, we would invite ministers to our open house.
“But now, what is important is that we celebrate this Gawai safely and follow all the SOPs so that we can celebrate many more Gawai to come,” she said.
Maria said her appointment as Tuai Rumah was a big challenge for her as she was appointed last December at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“But I have to continue my responsibility for the sake and wellbeing of my people here,” she said.
Japheth helping his father to prepare the ‘lemang’. 
Ngo Hawing preparing the ‘lemang’ (glutinous rice cooked in banana leaf and bamboo).
She said she had constantly advised the community to comply fully with the SOPs and reminded them to refrain from inviting outsiders into their house for the time being.
“There will be police patrolling the area, so I told them if they are caught for defying the SOPs, they are responsible for their actions,” she said.
Meanwhile, Maria’s 55-year-old husband Ngo Hawing, an Orang Ulu from Sungai Asap, said the celebration since last year had been moderate.
“The atmosphere is not like Gawai because we cannot “ngabang” (go visiting). But we hope that the situation will be much better next year,” he said.
He said the strict SOPs did not dampen the spirit of Gawai Dayak for him and his family.
One of the couple’s sons, Japheth Moses Manju Ngo, 19, said that what he missed most was visiting the family and friends during Gawai.
“But thanks to technology, I still can video call them over the phone to wish them Selamat Hari Gawai,” he said.
Maria (second left) and her family at their house at Lorong 16, Kampung Tabuan Dayak.
