SIBU: The Sarawak State Library (Pustaka) is organising a virtual Sarawakiana Festival for the first time this year.
In conjunction with the festival, Pustaka Sibu will host a number of programmes and activities for residents in the Sibu division.
Among the activities and programmes that will take place are Sarawakiana exhibition, traditional cuisine demonstration, cultural performances, Mensia Marek games — Sabung daun melabu and pucuk kelidang and Sarawakiana virtual run.
The Sarawakiana exhibition will feature three activities, including leaf painting by local artists, paintings by local artists in collaboration with the Sibu Contemporary Art Association with leaf motifs, and the narrative behind the production of the paintings.
“The physical exhibition will run from Nov 1 to 20 from 10am to 5pm whereas the online exhibition will be held on Sept 3, 10, and 24 at 3pm,” said its spokesperson.
Painting of leaves on display at the Sarawak State Library in Sibu in conjunction with the programme. 
Another programme is the seraong or Terendak Melanau exhibition by Julan Ajus, a seraong entrepreneur from Kampung Tanam in Dalat district.
The exhibition will showcase the Seraong Melanau handicrafts as well as the materials used to create them.
Meanwhile, the traditional cuisine demonstration will highlight the use of leaves in the traditional cuisine of the local community.
Demonstrations on the use of leaves in Iban cuisine will be held on Sept 3, Pipus Melanau demonstrations will be held on Sept 23 at 10am (online) and demonstrations on the use of leaves in Chinese cuisine will be held on Sept 9 at 11am (online).
A Sarawakiana talk: How the Matu Community lives with the Leaves will be held online on Sept 18.
The talk will be given by Abdul Walid Ali, a lecturer at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), who will highlight the Matu and Sarawak communities’ way of life in terms of handicrafts, food preparation, games, aesthetics, among others.
The public will also have the opportunity to witness the Sarawak cultural performance in collaboration with Sibu Melanau Association which will highlight the Melanau customs after childbirth.
The Sarawakiana virtual run will take place on Oct 15 and the run will be free of charge. Registration opens from Aug 6 to Sept 15.
Intending participants are to contact the organisers Ramdzan Saman at amdzans@sarawak.gov.my, Sibu; Muhammad Aufa Mohamad Jamaludin at aufa@sarawak.gov.my, and Miri; Nur Aiman Nicholas Luyoh at nicholl1@sarawak.gov.my.
