TRADER Lim Lian Bing is enjoying brisk business as the Gawai celebration is just around the corner.
Lim, 61, who speaks fluent Iban, is selling festival items which include mini ketupat casings at the Sibu Central Market.
A bunch of eight casings is priced at RM1 while those with rice is priced at RM2. About 30 traders at the central market are selling Dayak festival items.
The casing is a must-item for the Iban miring ceremony during Gawai to honour the petara (gods), spirits and ancestors. It can also be performed to make a wish or to seek success in future ventures, whether in business or travel.
“I have been selling miring items for more than 30 years. More people seem to be buying them now compared to before. However, it is hard to be sure as sometimes, I have many customers while at other times, only a few. But with Gawai looming, my business is getting better,” said Lim, who is part Iban.
The Gawai festival is celebrated on June 1 this year.
Lim made some of the items sold such as the mini ketupat casings. However, during festival time, she sources other items from other suppliers.
Fellow trader, Nini Nyawai, 55, said it was usually during this time of the year with Gawai looming that business would boom.
“My business has been better over the past few days. I am also selling ketupat casings as people need them for Gawai,” she said.
Nyawai, who is manning her stall alone, has been selling the casings for almost 30 years.
“On a normal day, I do have customers but during Gawai, the sales improve,” she said.
Nyawai said that her business was badly impacted for the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. — By ANDY CHUA
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