Photo Copyright © 2006 New Straits TimesKOTA KINABALU: The rhythmic beating of gongs and melodic tunes from traditional bamboo instruments fill the air as local beauties dance and delicacies are offered in celebration of the Harvest Festival here.
Although it is a celebration synonymous with the Kadazandusun culture, people from all walks of life joined in the merry-making at the two-day exhibition and traditional games fiesta at the Kadazandusun Cultural Association grounds yesterday.
Young girls in traditional costumes — including those of the Kadazandusun, the Lundayeh, the Rungus and the Murut — roamed the festival grounds while local artistes entertained the crowd.
The presence of the Unduk Ngadau (Harvest Beauty Queen) pageant contestants added a touch of glamour to the festival.
At the Murut house, children and grandparents alike were bouncing up and down the lansaran, a local trampoline used in wedding celebrations.
The Rungus women, meanwhile, showed off their skills at beading while the Dusun Lotud house drew admiring crowds with its dancers.
Traditional games such as the mamagandal (a race involving transporting two 35kg sacks), mipulos (arm wrestling), rampanau (stilt walking), and momolositik (catapulting) were all crowd pullers.
Mark Freeman, 41, a British scuba diving instructor who lives in New Zealand, said this was his second trip to Sabah and he had timed it to coincide with the festival.
"The first time I came, I was completely charmed by the local culture and people. So I decided to come back again especially for this," he said, taking a sip of the local rice wine, tapai.
Dawn Isaac, from England, said this was her first trip to Sabah after learning about the festival from Freeman.
"He said I must come and experience it for myself and I am enjoying it thoroughly," she said.
Courtesy of New Straits Times
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