Sarawaks Harvest Festival

Public Message Announcement : Selamat Ari Gawai to all Dayaks of Sarawak!

The harvest festival is celebrated every 1st and 2nd of June by the Iban and Bidayuh tribe of Sarawak. Lets not forget the grand happennings that'll keep you pumped up on the night of the 31st ushering in the Dayak New Year. Yes, for us Dayaks it is the new year. It starts when the Harvest is done and it's time for a celebration before the next batch is planted.  

Unfortunately, not a lot of people know about the Gawai festival, even Malaysians themselves. In the olden days, Gawai was the highlight of all yearly events. People would make Tuak (rice wine) beforehand and prepare Kuih Jala for guests. The newly harvested paddy (we call it new paddy) would be packed and given out to relatives. Almost everything would be rice base. Before the Dayaks turned to Christianity, they worshipped the elemental Gods. A sacrifice would be made to thank them for a good harvest, and is usually done by a Priestess on a swing, and lots of chanting in the middle of the village. 

Nowadays, Gawai is still celebrated although most of the Dayaks have turned to more professional jobs  and buy rice from the supermarkets. It's a celebration of tradition and culture. For those who still have paddy fields, the culture of giving away new rice is still done. In some communities, offerings are still given to the Gods, but most would attend a church service to thank Jesus for the Harvest.  

On the first and second of June, it's usually a huge feast with lots of eating and drinking. This is the time to visit friends and family (and meet new extended family you never knew), an act we call "Ngabang". The Iban dan Bidayuh villages will have a sweet smell of charcoal in the air as most of the cooking are done on an open fire. Instead of pots and pans, we trade them for something better. The bamboo. All sorts of dishes are cooked in bamboos. We have the "Pansoh" which is generally chicken or pork with tapioca leaves stuffed in bamboos and cooked on the open fire. Chicken rice in the bamboo is also a favourite. Besides that, we have "Pangkang" which is almost like lemang but without the banana leave on the outside. 

For me, the most exciting part of Gawai would be having roasted pork with cold beer and great company.  Although I haven't been back for the harvest festival for the 5th year this year, I still can remember details of the yearly event, especially when my late grandmother was still around. She would be fussing over going back to the village for about a monthe before the day itself. On the day itself, you won't have luck finding her in the house as she will be out visiting for the whole day.    

With this, I would like to wish all family, friends and all those celebrating, a Blessed Gawai!!