KUCHING: Gawai for the uninitiated is a time for thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest.
By like other festive celebrations, it is also a time when families come together in a big way and catch up over delicious food and drinks to make merry.
But truth be told, Gawai is more than just another festive celebration, it is also a time when traditions and ritual practices come to the fore, even in this day and age.
Nyalau Geli, a 62-year-old army veteran said like any other year, he will celebrate Gawai by observing age-old traditions attached to the occasion.
“I will of course be wearing the Baju Burung, which is is the traditional Iban male costume or outfit throughout the festive celebration.
“Baju Burung is the male version of the Ngepan Iban and it symbolises a strong and brave Iban man, and that’s what I’ll be wearing,” he said.
To him, the Gawai celebration is rooted in the preservation of the culture and the origins of the Dayak people.
“In other words, we are still here to continue to maintain the culture that was passed down by our ancestors.
“Because if it is not us, who else will do it, right? That is why I am still practising the traditions even though I am a born-again Christian,” he added.
He also explained that one of the Gawai traditions that is still practiced to this day is the miring.
“For those who do not know, miring is an Iban ritual, to honour our god, the spirits and our ancestors.
“Miring is not only for Gawai, in fact this ritual can also be done for any of us looking for success, be it for our business or any other things that we do,” he added.
He stated that on May 20 recently, they observed Gawai according to its tradition and culture.
“We celebrated it in Kpg Sengkalan, Simunjan, according to its traditions, such as by building the ranyai, we had the bertabuh gendang pampat and of course the Ngajat dance,” he said.
Nyalau said it is important to encourage the younger generations to participate in Gawai traditions.
“We must make sure that they learn all of these traditions so that they remember who they are and where they come from.
“Some of the traditions that can be learned are the bertabuh, which is traditional Iban music to welcome guests.
“Tabuh is not only part of the Iban arts, but also is a customary complement, and of course we want the youngsters to learn Ngajat as well.
“I hope that Gawai’s culture and traditions will continue to be preserved,” he added.
He urge youngsters to never forget where they come from and to continue practising these traditions.
“This is our identity, of who we are, and even though we have become Christian, do not ever let go of the traditions.
“Instead, we should try to develop our culture and present it to the world, so that they know how beautiful the Dayak community is,” he said.
“That is my message to young Sarawakians out there, and I wish everyone a blessed Gawai,” he added.
