THIS year is the 59th year Dayaks in Sarawak are celebrating Gawai Dayak since the first one in 1964.
Prior to 1964, tribal groups known as Dayaks that included Iban, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu (Kelabit, Kayan, Kenyah and many more) never celebrated Gawai Dayak. But that all changed after the declaration of the first festive Gawai Dayak.
Now that the festival is celebrated on June 1 and 2 yearly, it is on the lips of everyone, be they Ibans, Bidayuhs or Orang Ulu.
In fact, Gawai Dayak has become a celebration for all including other Malaysians. In Sarawak, the ‘balik kampung scene’ is similar to that in Kuala Lumpur during Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations; buses, express boats and other public transport are fully loaded with celebrants who are heading home to their respective villages and longhouses.
In Sibu, for example, even with the road to Kapit now, there are many people living along the Rajang River who still depend on express boats, making them popular during the festive season.
In cities like Kuching and Miri and other urban centres in Sarawak, there are various open houses to cater for pengabang (guests). These open houses may be held at individual residences as well as common halls or venues for easy access to all if they are held by organisations.
The Gawai Dayak was made a public holiday starting in 1964 under the first Sarawak chief minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Stephen Kalong Ningkan. It was meant to lend credence to the fact that it was fair to give the Dayaks a special day that was to become a public holiday in their honour.
It was from this point that the Dayaks became an united community. From then on, it was a festival that they looked forward to every year.
Gawai Dayak also marks the end of a good and bountiful harvest for farmers. The Christians usually thank the Almighty for His year-long blessing that leads to a good harvest. Pagans will do miring for their Petara and pray the next year will bring better yields from their fields.
The celebration usually starts on Gawai Eve, namely, in the evening of May 31.
At my Kedap longhouse in Saratok, the evening will start with a family dinner in the respective ruai (gallery) where the family will present an array of dishes to be shared with the next door neighbours, thereby enhancing close ties with one another.
At around 10 pm, all families will assemble at the gallery of headman Tuai Rumah Robert Lin Malina who is also a lay reader. He will lead the longhouse folk to pray for the blessed lives of all families, for the success of those children who are sitting for public exams, for the blessings and success of farmers and government servants. He also prays for the wellbeing of the longhouse residents and other related matters. Lin will also remind all to remain united.
Celebrating the Gawai Dayak in the longhouse is more interesting when compared to the celebration in the towns or cities. For instance, the longhouse folk will begin to ‘ngabang’ (visit) each other as early as the evening of May 31, even before the 10 pm gathering. There is always that free flow of liquor, including ‘tuak’ (rice wine) right from the start. This act will pause for while from 10 pm till midnight when the ‘ngirup ai pengayu’ (drink of longevity toast) is done.
It is from around 12.10 am that other events such as Kumang Gawai, Keling Gawai, Fancy Dress Contest, Karaoke Singing, Hot Coffee Drinking Contest and other interesting competitions and games are held.
Early in the morning of June 1, the official Gawai Dayak first day, those who are wide awake will gather in front of the ‘Tiang Pengingat’ in front of the longhouse.
This ‘Tiang Pengingat’ (Memorable Pillar) was first erected and used from June 1, 1965, the second year of official Gawai do. This is the gazetted date by the Sarawak Government last time. This gathering around the pole or pillar is meant to pray for the bountiful harvest of the previous farming year and to pray for another plentiful of yields in the current year.
It is also to pray for good health, safety and overall success and wellbeing in the entire community. About three decades ago, the gathering there in Kedap was to do miring (offering ceremony) for every item in the entire world of paganism. But now, miring is replaced by Christian prayers as there is no more paganism in our midst.
I remember watching the pagan elders do the miring around the pillar in the 60s and revel in their explanations in the order of the appeasing items offered, such as level one, three, five, seven and the highest order level nine. These would depend on the urgency of the requests and related matters.
Now that Kedap is blessed by 24-hour electricity, many interesting items are likely to be carried out at the longhouse this time around, especially after the better health condition as compared to the COVID-19 days.
I remember many years ago one of the interesting item held was a hot coffee drinking contest. The winner, my nephew Igat Narang Jon, could not take food properly for about almost a week due to a burnt tongue. He won a small hamper and towel for his victory but was it really worth it? But as expected it was all for the fun and perhaps pun.
Another interesting item is perhaps the ‘Kumang Indai Orang’ contest. This is a contest between mothers who aspire to be called Kumang or Queen. It was held twice in the past. Some grandmothers also joined in the midst of their crying grandkids who could not recognise their grandmas who had truly been transformed after heavy makeup. Some seemed to be 20 years younger.
At our longhouse, the ‘ranyai’ trees will start to appear on Gawai Eve. These trees are common in the Rajang areas of Kanowit, Julau, Kapit and Song.
The items on them are usually cut loose around 4 am on Gawai Day. So when it comes to the ‘Tiang Pengingat’ gathering, most elders are still down and out.
I wish all readers a Happy Gawai Dayak 2023. Selamat Gayu Guru Gerai Nyamai.
