With the Gawai Dayak Festival just round the corner, the Gawai mood has reached fever pitch among the Dayak community in the state.
Most of those who live and work in the towns and cities are already making preparations for the journey back home to their villages and longhouses.
Car workshops and service centres experience an increase in customers sending their vehicles for checks, service and repairs.
Pet-shops receive an increase in bookings for “pet-boarding” by customers who can’t or won’t take their pets along.
In view of frequent break-ins and burglaries reported, some home-owners are taking extra precautionary steps and making arrangements regarding the security of their homes and properties before leaving for the festive holidays.
While some have booked their tickets weeks earlier, others are still making a bee-line to the bus terminals or airline counters, hoping against luck that there are still seats vacant available.
One of the main reasons for the trip is to enjoy celebrating the Gawai with parents, siblings, relatives and folks in the village or longhouse.
Most see the festival and the longhouse as the ideal time and place to converge and reunite with family and friends and catch up with old times after months or even years of separation due to work or other commitment.
Gawai Dayak is the festival celebrated annually by the Dayaks to thank the gods for a bountiful harvest of padi and to pray for a continuous blessing.
Ideally, being a traditional and cultural practice, Gawai Dayak (in fact, all gawais) should be celebrated and enjoyed in the natural settings in villages and longhouses. There,the practice is still “strong and pure” unlike the watered-down version showcased and mimicked in the town and cities.
As is customary with any gawai, tuak and other liquors are served.
It has been part of our culture, our way of treating and honouring our guests. But let it be done in moderation as not to harm our health, our relationship with others or endanger our lives on the road.
“Selamat Hari Gawai.
Arap ke Semua Gayu-guru, Gerai-nyamai, Lantang-senang Nguan Menua.”
