GAWAI is a time when the Dayak communities touch base with their roots by celebrating the traditional Harvest Festival with familes and friends in their villages or longhouses.
Family members might stay apart due to working in different parts of the state or country while some might have migrated to other countries.
Thus, Gawai, celebrated on June 1, is a time for the Dayaks to welcome their relatives and friends to their homes and vice versa in accordance with an age-old custom known as ngabang in Iban.
Tuak (rice wine) is synonymous with ngabang. The host will serve the traditional beverage to pengabang (guests) along with other local delicacies.
Traditional ritual
Tuak is brewed a few months before the celebration although nowadays imported liquor and beer are preferred as substitutes. This is common among the young generation who may lack the knowledge of preparing tuak.
The celebration usually differs from place to place. For instance, every longhouse in Sarawak has its own customs in consonance with how the longhouse community is organised.
In the early days, the miring (offerings) ceremony was performed on Gawai Eve where the village or longhouse chief gave thanks to the gods for the good harvest, blessings and longevity by waving a chicken in circular motion known as bebiau over the offerings.
The chicken was then used as a sacrifice.
However, in these modern times, most longhouses, especially those in the suburban areas that are easily accessible by road, no longer observe the miring ceremony.
Rumah Margaret Ugak
Margaret Ugak is one of the few female longhouse chiefs in Sarawak.
Her longhouse bearing her name – Rumah Margaret Ugak – at Sungai Lukut, Kanowit Division, is less than 10km from Kanowit town.
This 54-door longhouse, served by a tarred road, is equipped with basic facilities and amenities, including clean water and electricity supplies.
As early as May 29, Rumah Margaret Ugak was welcoming home relatives from urban centres such as Kuching, Sri Aman, Sibu, Miri, Bintulu, Tawau as well as Kuala Lumpur.
By May 31, various games and telematches had been held for families of the longhouse. Among the events were dart and blow pipe competitions, fishing, tortoise racing and sepak takraw.
On Gawai Eve, a karaoke session was held at the ruai.
Five minutes before midnight, the prayer leader, known as Apai Jawai, led a welcoming ceremony to usher in Gawai. Tuak was subsequently served as the revellers wished each other Happy Gawai.
Early on the morning of June 1, the Gawai mass prayer was performed at the ruai. The prayer leader then proceeded to bless the longhouse. The blessing of all the 54 doors took more than half a day. The families prayed together as they moved from door to door.
Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Gawai Dayak: A mix of tradition and modernity
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