BY LILIANA SHERYN
KUCHING: The Dayak community is buzzing with excitement and anticipation as they prepare for the upcoming Gawai festival.
The Dayaks, known for their rich cultural heritage and strong bond with nature, is gearing up to commemorate their ancestral traditions and showcase their unique customs during this festive extravaganza.
The preparations for Gawai Dayak are a testament to their deep-rooted connection with their heritage and their unwavering commitment to preserving their age-old customs.
Villages are abuzz with activity as homes are adorned with colourful decorations, traditional motifs and intricate woven tapestries.
The tantalising aromas of traditional Dayak delicacies waft through the air, as families meticulously prepare mouth-watering feasts to share with loved ones and guests.
Speaking to New Sarawak Tribune, Elsie Thomas, 24, said the Dayak community in her village, Kampung Seroban, Serian, is also organising cultural performances, traditional music and dance showcases, and friendly competitions, all of which serve to honour their cultural identity and foster a sense of community pride.
“As for today’s preparation, the villagers gather to go to the jungle and cut a tree to bring it to the village hall. This is to make a tree called Pokok Tapang.
“The tree will be placed in the middle of the hall to hang all the traditional snacks.
“Traditional snacks commonly in the form of ‘kuih jala’ and ‘cop/ros’ snacks are usually hung on the tapang tree,” she said.
On the night of Gawai eve (May 31), someone will climb the tapang tree while reciting chants. The tapang tree is believed to be inhabited by ‘beings,’ so the climber will chant rhymes while climbing it.
“For example, ‘oo babai, I am climbing this tree, don’t disturb me, I’ll return after I’m done,” she explained.
The purpose of climbing the tapang tree is to collect bee honey, which is represented by the ‘kuih jala’.
“This is our way of re-enacting how people used to climb the tapang tree to collect honey. That is why we perform this play.
“If you look at the ‘kuih jala’, you’ll notice that its pattern is more or less the same as a beehive. It also has a dark brown colour, resembling honeycomb.”
Sharene Conellia, 39, from Rumah Panjang Stephen Jawa, Nanga Selibut, Song, took the opportunity to speak with the press, sharing insights into their Gawai preparations.
“As for our village’s preparation for Gawai, we will have an activity called ‘Beranchau Tikai,'” Sharene revealed.
“The community, especially the ladies, will collaborate to make ketupat using leaves for the use on the evening of the 31st of May and the morning of Gawai on June 1.
“This activity will be carried out by all the ladies from the longhouse. They will sit together in a ‘ruai’ (communal space) to prepare and complete the ketupat,” she said.
Sharene explains another significant ritual of the Gawai celebration.
“When it comes to the evening of June 1st, we usually have a ritual called ‘Ngelalin Teresang.’ This ritual is performed night of the first day of Gawai. The purpose of this ritual is to worship the spirits and call upon the gods,” she said.
“Teresang is a traditional tool used by the Iban community during the celebration of Gawai Dayak. During Gawai Dayak, the miring ceremony is the original ritual for offering a feast to the gods,” she added.
The Teresang serves as a symbolic representation of placing offerings or feasts to the deities after the completion of the miring ceremony.
“All the residents of the longhouse, from door to door, will assist each other in performing this ritual on the veranda of the longhouse.
“The ritual involves pouring tuak (traditional rice wine) and is specifically performed by the men. Children are not allowed to go outside during the ritual as it is considered one of the ‘pantangs’.”
With these insightful preparations and rituals, the Dayak community is fully immersed in the spirit of Gawai, honouring their cultural traditions and connecting with their ancestral spirits.
