Covid-19: Gawai celebration is only allowed on June 1

KUCHING: The coming Gawai Dayak celebration in Sarawak will be allowed for one day only on June 1, says the state disaster management committee.

According to the standard operating procedure (SOP) released on Friday (May 21), the celebration is limited to family members in the same household while those in longhouses can only celebrate with their immediate families within their own "bilik".

"Ngabang" (house-to-house visiting) and inter-district balik kampung are not allowed.

All social activities such as weddings, engagements, thanksgiving meals and cockfighting are also not allowed during the celebration.

Gawai, the annual Harvest Festival celebrated by Sarawak's Dayak communities, falls on June 1 and 2.

For Gawai eve on May 31, the celebration is similarly limited to family members in the same household or longhouse "bilik".

The SOP also allows the "miring" ceremony (ritual offerings) and its related activities to be conducted at a venue specified by the village development and security committee with not more than 20 people in attendance.

All participants must wear face masks, observe physical distancing and record their attendance via MySejahtera app or manually, while those with symptoms such as fever and cough are not allowed to attend.

However,"miring" rituals are not allowed in areas under the enhanced movement control order.