Juni 16, 2009

Happy Gawai

It is going to be a long holiday here in Sarawak so I'm going to be away for a while. Actually just going back to visit the parents to celebrate the 29th years anniversary on the 1st June. It is the same day of the Gawai Dayak celebration. The word Gawai means a ritual or festival whereas Dayak is a collective name for the native ethnics of Sarawak;Iban, Bidayuh, Kayan, Kenyah, Kelabit, Lun Bawang and others. Thus, Gawai Dayak literally means "Dayak Festival". Dayak would visit their friends and relatives on this day. Such visit is more known as "ngabang" in Iban dialect. Relatives and visitors are served with rice wine or tuak and chicken cooked in bamboo as well as other traditional delicacies at the many ''open houses".