KUCHING: The three-day Bidayuh Mystique Festival will commence this Friday (July 29) starting with Bidayuh traditional dance competition to get the ball rolling.
Organised by the Segu Bunuk Penrissen Association (PSBP) the event will be held at the Parish Hall of St Paul Bunuk Church, Jalan Borneo Heights.
For the first night, Deputy Minister of Plantation and Commodities Datuk Willie Mongin will officiate at the event and will see four groups competing in the traditional dance category.
Cash prizes worth RM1500, RM1000 and RM800 and certificates are up for grabs for the top three contestants while RM200 and a certificate will be given as consolation to other participants.
Audiences will be entertained by performances from the Pemuzik Pinanak Sentah Group and invited guest singers, Justina Pereira, Marshall Enric and Paul Kadun.
The second day of the event will see six dancing groups competing in the poco-poco dance category.
Meanwhile, 10 Bidayuh beauties from Padawan, Serian and Bau will compete for the title of Dayung Remus Bidayuh Mystique on Saturday night, considered as the event highlight.
The top three winners will bring home cash prizes worth RM2000, RM1500 and RM1000 for the winner, first runner-up and second runner-up respectively. They will also be given a trophy, sash, certificate and other gifts. Cash worth RM100 and a certificate will be given as consolations to other participants as well.
Federal Deputy Tourism, Art and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Santhara J.P will officiate at the festival and several Bidayuh singers, including Rozzie Mila and Claudia Geres, will be performing on the same night.
The Bidayuh food culinary competition which will be held on Sunday (July 31) has received an overwhelming response with 20 participants having registered to compete. Cash prizes of RM500, RM300 and RM200 respectively for the top three finishes are up for grabs. There will be consolation prizes of RM100 each and every contestant will be given a certificate of participation.
According to the festival’s manager Robert Kenneth, there will be 40 stalls selling food and drinks and exhibition booths of several government agencies and private sectors, including a free health screening for the festival goers.
PSBP chairman Gabriel Michael said preparation for the festival is going on smoothly and urged members of the public to come to the festival.
He said besides interesting activities, visitors will also have the chance to win lucky draw prizes.
“There are plenty of prizes to be won including a motorcycle as the grand prize,” he shared.
