Gawai Dayak 2024: Activities, History, FAQs, and Dates

Gawai Dayak 2024: Every year, Gawai Dayak is commemorated on June 1 and 2. The Dayak people in Sarawak, Malaysia, and West Kalimantan, Indonesia, celebrate a unique annual festival. Don’t worry about ‘Gawai Dayak’ confusion. The indigenous people of Sarawak, Indonesian Kalimantan, and Borneo are called “Dayak”; “Gawai” is a festival.

This is one of the most anticipated and exciting festivals in these regions. How is Gawai Dayak celebrated and what is its cultural and religious significance? Below are all the Gawai Dayak facts you need.

Gawai Dayak 2024: History

Gawai Dayak marks harvest completion. The event honors the hard work done before the harvest. Rice is often disregarded, even though it takes four to five months to grow one grain. Iban, Bidayuh, Kenyah, Kelabit, and Murut ethnic groups unite, aspirate, and hope at the event.

The Dawak people organize the festival in a magnificent style. Everyone will be occupied with the following activities in the days preceding the event: cleaning, visiting graves, drying paddy, milling and collecting, and preparing cuisine. The traditional costume, known as “nigepan,” is permissible for both men and women. On June 1 at midnight, someone strikes the gong to signal the start of the celebration. The festival chief will instruct all attendees to consume Tuak, a locally brewed rice wine, to secure a lengthy life.

The celebration becomes less formal as people dance to traditional music while others chant “pantuns,” or poems, and everyone wishes each other “gayu-guru, gerai-nyami,” which translates to “long life, health, and prosperity.” The festivities differ from one location to another. The pre-Gawai Dayak is held in May in the towns and villages before the arrival of city residents.

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Gawai Dayak 2024: FAQs

How is ‘tuak’ produced?

Tuak is an alcoholic beverage that is produced by fermenting rice, yeast, and sugar. It is exceedingly well-liked in Malaysia, Borneo, Sulawesi, and Sumatra.

What attire are they required to don during Ngajat dances?

A long, ornate shield with chains, beads, and a loincloth known as the “cawat” is held by the male dancers, who also don large feathers as part of their headgear.

Which Gawai Dayak dishes are most famous?

Sarang semut, cuwan, kui sepit, penganan iri, ngelulun pulut, pansoh manok, and chicken with lemongrass are typical dishes served at the event.

Gawai Dayak 2024: Activities

Participate in the festivities

Participating in the festivities is the most effective way to commemorate Gawai Dayak. This is your opportunity to organize a journey to Malaysia with your loved ones in order to witness the festival.

Acquire knowledge of Ngajat.

Learning Ngajat, the distinctive traditional dance of the locals, is one of the remarkable methods to commemorate Gawai Dayak. Acquire a few of the techniques and perform them in honor of this unique occasion.

I hope you enjoy the delights.

Wine, pastries, and other delicacies are plentiful during Gawai Dayak, a harvest festival. Reserve some space in your stomach for these delectable delights.