Gawai Dayak

Gawai Dayak in Penom Longhouse  

The word Gawai means a ritual or festival whereas Dayak is a collective name for the natives races in Sarawak; the Iban, Bidayuh, Kayan, Kenyah and a few more. Thus Gawai Dayak literally means the Dayak Festival. It is celebrated on 1st June every year. To the Dayak, Gawai Dayak would be recognition of the Dayak race. It was first celebrated on 1st June 1965 and became a symbol of unity, aspiration and hope for the Dayak community. Today, it is an integral part of Dayak social life. It is a thanksgiving day marking good harvest and a time to plan for the new farming season or activities ahead. The mode of celebrations varies from place to place. Preparation starts very early. As the big day approaches, everyone will be busy with the general cleaning and preparing the food or cakes. 

A few days before Gawai, many urban dwellers (from Kuching, Sibu, Miri & other part of Sarawak) return to Penom longhouse to celebrate Gawai with their family. This is a time for meeting family & relatives, feasting, dancing and having a good time. Visitors are made welcome and this is the best time to see traditional longhouse life and ceremonies with the women dressed up in their exotic costumes. 

In Penom, the celebration starts on the early morning of 31st May. Around 7am, longhouse folks nurun nyempiang pendam kena nanda ke pengingat, penyinu enggau pengasih kitai ke sida ka udah niggal.

Pulai ari pendam, everyone will be busy with the general cleaning and preparing the food or cakes. On Gawai eve, glutinous rice is roasted in bamboo (ngelulun pulut) & nyembelih babi & manok. Around 12:30pm, tikai bemban (mats) will be laid out on the ruai.

A ceremony called Muai Antu Rua is performed at around 2:30pm. The purpose of this ceremony is to cast away the spirit of greediness. A young man (normally followed by children) dragging a box will pass each family room. Every family will throw glutinous rice, arang & lauk into the box. The articles will be tossed to the ground from the end of the longhouse for the Antu Rua.  

Around 3 pm, miring (offering ceremony) is take place at Tuai Rumah’s ruai. The ceremony starts with gendang rayah (ritual music) to call the Petara (Gods). The gendang rayah is performed 3, 5 or 7 times (odd number). Miau piring is performed by the feast chief to thanks the gods for the good harvest, ask for guidance, blessings and long life. After the miring ceremony, once again the gendang rayah is played. 

Figure: Miring at the Tuai Rumah's ruai

Around 4:30pm, another miring ceremony is performed at the tiang pengingat (which is situated at the longhouse yard). This time, a set of 7 piring (offerings) is prepared by the elders. Gendang rayah also performed during this ceremony to called the Petara. It is believed that when the gendang rayah is performed, the hujan panas will poured as the sign of the coming of Gods. Most of the time, this do happens! (for a few minutes).  

Figure: Miring at Tiang Pengingat

Figure: Miau Piring at Tiang Pengingat 

(suddenly the hujan panas poured down  after the gendang rayah)

Figure: Nyampi at Tiang Pengingat

After the miring ceremony at Tiang Pengingat, a telematch between longhouse folks is take place till the sunset (in Penom, around 6:30pm). Among the events played are bebatak tali & football match.  

Dinner is served at the ruai around 8pm. After the dinner, the folks gempuru (gather) at the Tuai Rumah’s ruai and berandau (talk/converse). Meanwhile, drinks, traditional cakes and delicacies are served. Around 10pm, a procession up and down the ruai called Ngalu Petara (Welcoming the Spirits) will follow. 

Figure: Ngalu Petara Ceremony

During the Gawai Eve, longhouse folks and visitors (if there is any) will donate some value of money for the Longhouse Fund (called Fund Rumah). The donation will be collected by a young couple, which is appointed by the Gawai committee. While waiting for the midnight, speeches will be delivered by  the Tuai Rumah, Treasurer or VIPs/guests.

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At midnight, the Tuai Rumah will lead everyone to drink the Ai Pengayu (normally tuak for long life) and at the same time wishing each other "gayu-guru, gerai-nyamai" (long life, health and prosperity). The celebration is continued with traditional dances and music, competitions (penyamai ai tuak, ngajat, betaboh, kumang & etc). Other activities, such as karaoke & joget till the morning sun.  

Figure : Wishing Gawai Gayu Guru Gerai Nyamai to each other

1st June, is the day for ngabang (visiting) or Meri Anak Mandi. Gawai Dayak celebration in Penom only last for 2 days (31 May & 1 June). Visitors are most welcome to the homes of the Dayaks during the festival.