KUCHING: Like many Sarawakians, returning to the hometown for Gawai Dayak every year is the most eagerly awaited occasion, and this is no different for Marianne Tra Anchang, who has been residing and working in Kuala Lumpur since 2011.
It is, after all, the one time of the year in which all her extended family would congregate, laughing in merriment, at her house here, in celebration.
However, this year’s Gawai will not be fun and lively as like in previous years.
With the Covid-19 pandemic and the interstate travel ban under the conditional movement control order (CMCO), there is no way for this 30-year-old optometrist to come home for Gawai.
“This year, for the first time ever, I will be spending Gawai with my cousins, who are also working in KL,” Marianne told New Sarawak Tribune today.
Sharing her favourite moments celebrating Gawai, she said her house would be filled with her extended family members making preparations the night before.
“Usually, my father would go to the market to buy bamboo to cook my favourite dish, ayam pansuh.
“My cousins, on the other hand, would help with cooking and decorating the house, and the best part would be the dinner gathering,” she said.
Above all, the fondest moment for Marianne was when her father delivered his speech on Gawai eve (May 31).
She said she would look forward to her father’s speech about how they should be grateful for all the blessings.
“My father always reminds us to be grateful. This occasion is not only about the rice harvest, but it involves all forms of blessings.
“Great achievement in career or getting good results in SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia) exams are also a blessing,” she pointed out.
Looking back on how lively Gawai was celebrated then, Marianne said experiencing the festive season away from parents would be tough.
“But I believe, with the spirit of the padi plant, we will be blessed with good health and pray that the situation will get better soon,” she said in a broken voice.
Like Marianne, Melina Minos, 29, will also celebrate the harvest festival in the concrete jungles of KL.
Melina, who has been working in Kuala Lumpur for almost 10 years, said normally her family would celebrate Gawai at her mother’s longhouse at Kampung Benuk, Penrissen.
“My parents are from two different villages — my mother from Kg Benuk, Penrissen while my father is from Kg Stengang, Bau.
“Usually we celebrate Gawai at my mother’s longhouse because it’s more happening, and they still live in the longhouse.
“When I was little, I experienced the Gawai tradition by the elderly when they were pagans but now, they have converted to Christianity, they don’t practise the Gawai traditions anymore.
“But still, the people would decorate the longhouse and people would play holo (gambling) and mejeng (dance). And then, there will be local bands performing at the hall usually on the first day of Gawai.
“We also go ngabang (visiting)…this is the time all friends and family would come over.
“Last year it was a big Gawai celebration in Kg Benuk as we had our former Minister of Communications over to see our longhouse tradition and tried our tuak,” she recalled.
This year, Melina said the feeling to celebrate Gawai was rather gloomy.
“I miss the feeling of joy and enthusiasm, with everyone flocking to their longhouses,” she said.
Asked on her plans for Gawai, she said this would be the simplest celebration that she would ever have.
“Since I won’t be home to celebrate for the first time, I don’t feel any excitement.
“This year I will be having a simple one, gathering with some of my close friends, having dinner with them and not forgetting the tuak,” she added.
