So the Gawai Dayak celebration is just around the corner. My family is heading back to the village for the big family gathering this weekend. It is the time of the year where you get to meet relatives and enjoy the 'new rice' in one's village. Gawai Dayak marks the end of the harvest season and is just one of the many Gawais the Ibans celebrate apart from Gawai Antu, Gawai Kenyalang etc. It also symbolizes the beginning of a new harvest year.
About a few weeks before Gawai, my family and I attend pre-Gawai dinner in our town's city hall. It is a pretty much a very formal occassion and one of the highlights of the event is the crowning of the beauty king and queen of the year's Gawai. The competitors are judged not only based on their appearance but also on their knowledge of the Iban culture and of course, the ability to dance the traditional dance called ngajat. The one dance that I am yet to master and thus, disqualifies me from competing.... *laugh*. Joking. Guess I first need to lose 30 kg before even think of joining.
In the eve of Gawai each family conduct a miring ceremony (see the First Picture). Offerings to the Dayak gods are arranged on plates and placed in certain places around the family's room. It is believed that the gods wil feast on the offerings and bring good luck to the family. Other than that we organize beauty queen contest in my village too. However, last year they only organize the juniour version of the contest. As you can see, this cute little girl is showing off her talent. Though she was not the winner that night, she is surely is in her way to stardom in the future.
When I was a little girl I join the juniour beauty contest too. Ah.. those days when you know nothing of the word SHY and LOW SELF-ESTEEM.
Gawai is pretty much equivalent to North America's Thanksgiving. However, the Dayaks have their own way to thank the gods. Usually it involves a sacrificial ceremony. In Sandau Ari, which is celebrated after the Gawai Eve, a pig is sacrificed and its heart is later given to a shaman who will predict the future by "reading" the heart of the pig.
At the end of the Sandau Ari, the host of the event will hang the kelingkang on the gutter of the roof. The kelingkang contents offerings to gods such as eggs, rice wine, pop rice and kuih made from tepung pulut. Later, the host will roll down egg from the rooftop so those who could catch the egg will have good luck.
Oh one more thing, going back to the Eve of Gawai, the most anticipated moment are the drinkng of ' Ai Pengayu'. Literally, ai pengayu means longevity drink. What's the drink you may ask.. .it is home-brewed rice wine or tuak. My grandma usually brewed them a month before Gawai. So drink this on the eve of Gawai at midnight and you will live a long life ;) Here is the video of last year's countdown to midnight. Let me know if you can spot a guest star in the video So Selamat Hari Gawai to Everyone!!! Gayu guru gerai nyamai, lantang senang nguan menua...
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