KUCHING: Adorned with elaborate feathered headgear, handcrafted beadwork and traditional garments, performers brought the festive cheer from the traditional longhouse to the city as they marked the opening of Pesta Gawai (Harvest Festival) season in Sarawak.
The Sarawak Cultural Village hosted the annual Sarawak Harvest and Folklore Festival on May 24 and 25, featuring cultural performances, heritage showcases and youth-driven creative programmes.
Among the performances featured was that of the Tagal community from Long Tengoa in northern Sarawak near the Brunei border.
The performance was a form of thanksgiving after harvest.
Vivien Liaw Mei Chin, who was one of the performers at the festival, said the festival showcased the traditional culture and unity of Sarawakians.
“The performance signifies togetherness, gratitude and appreciation of our cultural heritage. A total of 12 people participated in the performance,” she said.
“The response was very positive. The audience enjoyed the performance and showed great interest and support throughout the event.”
The event was organised with the support of the Sarawak Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Ministry, Tourism Malaysia and the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Sarawak’s position as a regional cultural tourism hub.
Hari Gawai marks the end of the harvesting season and gratitude for a bountiful crop.
