The Sarawak state government has announced the Orang Ulu community as the designated host for the 2025 state-level Gawai Dayak celebration.
According to a new report by Borneo Post, this decision, was revealed by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
It follows the established rotational precedent, with the Bidayuh community’s successful stewardship in the preceding year and the Iban community’s prior hosting.
This annual event holds significant cultural weight, serving as a platform to showcase the diverse traditions and heritage of Sarawak’s indigenous populations.
Datuk Gerawat Gala, Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department, has been appointed as the organizing committee chairman.
His mandate includes the formation of a dedicated working committee and the proposition of a comprehensive program schedule.
The Gawai Dayak event last year saw five core programs during including the Gawai Dayak Bazaar, carnival, cultural parade, state dinner, and the inaugural launch of the Gawai tourism brochure and coffee-table book.
The Gawai Dayak Bazaar generated RM2.4 million in sales and featured 174 stalls, while the cultural parade witnessed the participation of 111 contingents, including representatives from the Kadazan Dusun community.
About Gawai Dayak
Gawai Dayak, celebrated annually on June 1st in Sarawak, Malaysia, is a significant festival marking the end of the rice harvesting season. It symbolizes gratitude for a bountiful yield and heralds the start of a new planting cycle. This vibrant celebration is deeply rooted in the traditions of the Dayak people, emphasizing their connection to the land and their rich cultural heritage.
The festivities are characterized by traditional rituals, including “miring,” offerings to spirits, and the preparation of customary delicacies like “tuak” (rice wine). Traditional attire, music, and dances, such as the captivating “Ngajat,” are integral to the celebrations. Longhouses, the traditional dwellings of the Dayak people, become the focal points of communal gatherings, with open houses welcoming visitors to share in the joyous occasion. Learn more about Gawai Dayak celebrations in Kuching here.
