Sabah's month-long Kaamatan festival kicks off May 1

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah's month-long colourful Kaamatan celebrations kicked off in the Tuaran district on Monday (May 1).

The celebrations of the ethnic Kadazandusun, Murut and Rungus communities will be held across the state with traditional music, dances and games in each district over the month before culminating with the state-level celebration on May 30 and 31.

Kaamatan or the Harvest Festival is a celebration of thanksgiving to the paddy spirit for good harvest.

It will also see each district picking its own Unduk Ngadau (Harvest Queen) who will then compete among themselves for the state-level Unduk Ngadau 2023 title.

The launch of the festivities was marked with the symbolic acts of cutting the paddy stalks and beating the gong by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan and other state dignitaries at Dewan Sri Sulaman in Tuaran, about 40km from here.

Kitingan was representing Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor at the launch of the celebrations, themed Kaamatan Membudayakan Perpaduan (Kaamatan forges cultural unity).

In his speech, Hajiji said the festival is a platform to foster unity among the people of multiple races, religions and cultures in this country while promoting social interaction and help to build a bridge of understanding between the communities of different ethnics.

The Kaamatan festivity enables the Kadazandusun Murut and Rungus to display their traditions and customs through dance, music and traditional clothing, he added.

"The state government has always supported cultural and religious celebrations and programmes. We believe that cultural events can strengthen the unity of the multiracial community and help us to recognise, understand and appreciate the customs and culture of each tribe.

"The diversity of culture and heritage with the harmony of 35 ethnicities and 217 sub-ethnicities in Sabah has made the "Land Below The Wind" a unique place for everyone," he said.

The Chief Minister said the Kaamatan Festival not only aimed at expressing the people's gratitude for a good harvest, it also provides an opportunity to strengthen the existing bond of friendship and unity among the people.