Gawai Dayak

Gawai day or Gawai Dayak is a festival celebrated in Sarawak on 1^st June every year. It is both a religious and social occasion. The word Gawai means a ritual or festival where as Dayak is a collective name for the native ethnic groups of Sarawak ( and neighboring Indonesian Kalimantan) the Iban, also known as Sea Dayak and the Bidayuh people also known as Land Dayak. Such visit is more commonly known as “ Ngabang “ in the Iban language. Gawai Dayak means “ Dayak Festival”.

Up till 1962, the British colonial goverment refused to recognise Dayak Day. Gawai Dayak was formally gazzeted on 25^th September 1964 as a Public holiday. It was first celebrated on 1^st June 1965 an became a symbol of unity, aspiration and hope for Dayak community. This event is rooted in the tradition of most Dayak tribe, namely agricultural rituals, ceremonies last from of gratitude for their harvest to the Jubata, the name for God.

As the big day approaches, everyone will be busy with general cleaning and preparing food and cakes. Tuak ( rice wine) is brewed ( at least one month before the celebration) and tradisional delicacies like panganan ( cakes from rice flour, sugar, coconut milk ) are prepared.

The celebration starts on tha evening. Around 6 p.m. or as sunset, miring (offering ceremony ) will take place. Before the ceremony, gendang royah (ritual music) is performed. Once the offering ceremony is done, dinner is then served at ruai (an  open gallery which runs through the entire length of the long house ). Just before midnight a procession up and down the ruai seven times called Ngalu Petara ( welcoming the spirit Gods ) is performed. At midnight, the gong is beaten to call the celebrants to attention. The festival Chief will lead everyone to drink tha Ai Pengayu ( normally tuak for long life ). The celebration now turn merrier and less formal. Some will dance to tradisional music played, others will sing the pantun (poems). Other activities that may follow the next few days include : cock fighting matches, and blowpipe and ngajat competitions. On this day, homes of Dayak are opening to visitors and guests.

Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wikiGawai_Dayak