Celebrating a rich rice culture

A farmer planting padi seedlings in his field. — Photos by Lano Lan

THERE is a long-held belief in Sabah that within every grain of rice resides a spirit, known as Bambarayon, or the spirit of padi.

This belief is so deeply ingrained that dropping rice on the floor or leaving even a grain on the plate is considered a grave sign of disrespect. Often, elders would share stories about the “crying rice”, a metaphor for the wastage of this precious staple.