KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman wielded a blowpipe and aimed straight at the bulls eye as a sign to officiate the 2016 state-level Kaamatan festival here.
The blowpipe signifies Sabah’s native hunting methods.
The festival will see traditional sports being played such as mipulos (arm wrestling), momolositik (catapult), rampanau (walking on stilts), terompak gergasi (running with huge wooden slippers), tumutu (paddy processing), migazat dukug (tug-of-war) and monungkava kalabau (buffalo catching using a rope).
Musa said the traditional sports served as a catalyst that could bring people together.
“We can see people from all walks of life getting to know about the traditional sports and supporting their favourite teams while contestants fight in a friendly battle,” he said.
Musa said Sabah’s diverse culture and beliefs were no hindrance to harmony in the state. “In fact, it acted as an agent of unity,” he added.
“We have more than 30 ethnic groups, and the Kaamatan (harvest) festival is one of the biggest celebrations by the natives of Sabah.
“We need to continue supporting events and celebrations such as this and to introduce it to the world,” he added.
Musa, along with his deputy Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, the Huguan Siou or Kadazandusun paramount leader and other dignitaries went on to sample traditional food and visited booths after the officiating ceremony.
Continue reading at: Tradition runs deep at Kaamatan fest
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