Leaders to host Gawai Dayak open house

Tasty treats: Iban maiden Cynthia Mon and fellow villagers from Kampung Batu Kudi preparing kuih penyaram, kuih jala and pulut to serve visitors during Gawai. — ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star

KUCHING: Federal and state Dayak leaders led by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah (pic) will host a Gawai Dayak open house at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching on Thursday.

The open house will be held from 10am to 4pm, with Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and his wife Puan Sri Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang attending as guests of honour.

“We also cordially invite the public to share the Gawai joy with us. All are welcome,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Gawai Dayak, the harvest festival celebrated by Sarawak’s Dayak communities, falls on June 1-2.

Uggah said 16 other Dayak leaders jointly hosting the open house included federal Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, state Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, Minister in the Premier’s Department Datuk John Sikie Tayai and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong.

Others are state deputy ministers Datuk Dr Jerip Susil, Datuk Snowdan Lawan, Datuk Majang Renggi, Datuk Liwan Lagang, Datuk Gerawat Gala, Datuk Malcom Mussen Lamoh, Datuk Henry Harry Jinep, Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu, Datuk Francis Harden Hollis, Datuk Dr Penguang Manggil, Jefferson Jamit Unyat and Martin Ben.

The open house will kick off a series of events planned for this year’s Gawai celebration with the theme “Segulai Sejalai” (Together In Unity), which emphasises the importance of unity among Sarawak’s diverse communities.

It will be followed by the state-level Gawai dinner on June 7, which is expected to be attended by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

There will also be a Gawai parade on June 17, featuring about 2,500 participants in over 80 contingents along the Kuching Waterfront.

In addition, a Gawai Dayak bazaar will be held at Dewan Masyarakat in Padungan here from June 16 to 25 with food and handicraft stalls as well as cultural performances, talent shows and Kumang and Keling beauty contests.