Gawai, The Celebration

Hari Gawai Dayak is coming soon... It is celebrated every year on the 1st of June, but later it was celebrated for 2 days (1st and 2nd or June). This year the first day of Gawai falls on Sunday, so it will be brought forward till 3rd of June. Start working on the 4th June.

Hari Gawai Dayak is celebrated by the Ibans, Bidayuhs, Kelabits, Kenyahs, Kayan, Lun Bawang and others. These people are called 'Dayak' people, that's why it is called Hari Gawai Dayak. I want to share a little bit about their tradition during the day, especially to my Semenanjung friends. I know you want to know about the culture although I'm a little blur2 also. But nevermind, I got some info and mostly from lots of sources from the internet but I've shorten it to make it easier to understand.

Usually the preparations start early. Sometimes you can see those people asking for early holidays from their employer to go to back to their kampung/rumah panjang. Don't be surprise if you see those people start drinking till drunk before the celebration's day. They are too happy of coz! Normally, beers, wine and tuak are some of the things which must be prepared early because without those things mean no celebrations. Alright my semenanjung's friends, this is normal ok? Even before CNY or Hari Raya, people start playing fireworks already. Anyway, 'Tuak' is a rice wine which is a must for the celebrations. Besides that some deligacies such as penganan (cakes from rice flour, sugar and coconut milk) is also prepared. Below is one of the penganan called penganan jala...

An example of penganan

On Gawai Eve, glutinous rice is steamed in a bamboo (ngelulun pulut). Sorry that I can't find any of the picture. In the longhouses, new mats will be laid out on the ruai (an open area which runs through the entire length of the longhouse). The walls of most bilik (rooms) and the ruai are decorated with 'Pua Kumbu'. A visit to clean the graveyard is also conducted and offerings are offered to the dead. After the visit it is important to bathe before entering the longhouse to ward off bad luck.

Pua Kumbu

Dinner at ruai

The celebration will start in the evening of 31st May. In most Iban longhouses, it starts with a ceremony called Muai Antu Rua to cast away the spirit of greed, signifying the non-interference of the spirit of bad luck in the celebration.

Muai Antu Rua
(Two children or men each dragging a chapan (winnowing basket) will pass each family's room. Every family will throw some unwanted article into the basket. The unwanted articles will be tossed to the ground from the end of the longhouse for the spirit of bad luck.)

Around 6 pm or as the sun sets, miring (offering ceremony) will take place. Before the ceremony, gendang rayah (ritual music) is performed. The Feast Chief thanks the gods for the good harvest, ask for guidances, blessings and long life as he waves a cockerel over the offerings. Then, he sacrifices the cockerel and a little blood is also used together with the offerings.

Miring

At midnight, the gong is beaten to call for the celebrants to attention. The longhouse Chief (tuai rumah) or Festival Chief will lead everyone to drink the 'Ai Pengayu' (normally tuak for long life) and at the same time wishing each other "gayu-guru, gerai-nyamai" (long life, health and prosperity). Some will dance to the traditional music played. Others will sing the 'pantun'. In urban areas, the Dayaks will organise gatherings at community centres or restaurants to celebrate the evening.

Not this kind of pantun laa...

Other activities that may follow the next few days include cock-fighting matches, blowpipes and 'ngajat' competitions. On this day,1st of June, homes of Dayaks is opened to visitors or guests. Traditionally, when the guests arrive at the longhouse, they will receive the 'Ai Tiki' to welcome the guests. From time to time, guests will be served 'tuak'. This would be called 'nyibur temuai' or literally means watering of guests.

Ngajat, Iban's traditional dance

Gawai Dayak celebration may last for several days, so usually they will ask for extended holiday from their employers. Their employer 'pening-pening' and couldn't do anything but expecting a bottle of tuak. Hehe... Sometimes they use tuak for their cookings also. One more thing you should know is Ang pow or Duit Raya doesn't happen during Gawai!!!

Last but not least, I want to invite all my Semenanjung's friends to visit Sarawak, a place full with different cultures...You don't have to go overseas to see this. Not need Indonesia, no need Papua New Guinea, no need Mongolia, no need Africa or Brazil.
(What am I talking about???)

*For those Dayaks, if I was wrong about this post or something missing.... then please share it... Thanks!

Article Source: www.wikipedia.com and many more...