‘Birarak' and Bidayuh pride
Simon (second from right) and Johannes (right) greeting the parade participants.
KAMPUNG Taee, a Bidayuh village near Serian in Sarawak, came alive in a vibrant spectacle of culture, heritage and unity at its annual Gawai parade.
Known as 'Birarak', the 5km parade took place on June 1 as Sarawak's Dayak community – comprising the Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu – celebrated the Gawai harvest festival.
The annual Gawai parade at Kampung Taee was a colourful showcase of Bidayuh culture. - ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star
Dressed in traditional finery, the participants made their way through the village, accompanied by the rhythmic beats of gongs and drums.
Among them were 14 Bidayuh beauty queens in traditional costumes, symbolising the grace and elegance of their cultural heritage, as well as a number of participants in warrior regalia.
Parade participants performing a traditional dance along the route.
Households along the route greeted the parade with enthusiasm, offering traditional snacks and drinks to the participants in a spirit of communal hospitality.
'This is the 55th time that the parade has taken place since 1970,' organising chairman Johannes Ridu said.
Parade participants chatting with a visitor during the Gawai celebration at Kampung Taee.
'We hold it to celebrate the harvest festival every year and to thank the Almighty for a bountiful harvest for Kampung Taee.'
Participants in warrior regalia walking along the parade route through Kampung Taee.
Altogether some 3,000 people joined the festivities, including visitors and foreign tourists.
Tebedu assemblyman Dr Simon Sinang, who was the guest of honour, said the strong turnout reflected the community's pride in their heritage.
Households along the route offering traditional snacks and drinks to the participants in a spirit of communal hospitality.
He said the presence of many visitors also showcased Sarawak's unity in diversity.
'Gawai is a festival we all look forward to every year, not only by the Dayaks. If you look around, we have people from all races coming here to celebrate.
Elly took part in the parade to promote her Bidayuh heritage.
'This is something unique to Sarawak. Although we come from different races and religions, we can gather during Gawai to celebrate together,' he said.
Simon also said Sarawakians are known for their friendliness and hospitality in welcoming guests to their festive celebrations.
Dressed in traditional finery, the participants made their way through the village, accompanied by the rhythmic beats of gongs and drums.
'We welcome everyone to enjoy the Gawai celebration throughout Sarawak,' he added.
Elly Eugenia Gavin, one of the beauty queens in the parade, took pride in the opportunity to promote her Bidayuh heritage.
Bidayuh warriors performing a traditional dance.
The 23-year-old student said the parade is a way to introduce Bidayuh culture to a wider audience beyond Sarawak.
'By taking part in the parade, I get to showcase my Bidayuh traditional attire, which I believe can attract the interest of tourists.
Villagers getting ready for the annual Gawai parade at Kampung Taee.- ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star
'The younger generation like myself can also use social media to promote awareness and appreciation of our culture and traditions,' she said.
Japanese visitor Yushi Itagaki, who attended the parade with his mother Sachiyo, said they enjoyed their first experience of the event.
Villagers performing a traditional dance during the Gawai parade. - ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star
'I can see a lot of local culture here,' he said.
Sachiyo said that they missed last year's parade as they went to Kampung Taee on June 2.
'They told us to come on June 1 this year so that we won't miss it again. It's very exciting to be here watching the parade,' she said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Borneo Post
31 minutes ago
- Borneo Post
RiamTec students blend culture with compassion in Gawai do
Goh (right) presents a memento to Lau. MIRI (June 29): Students of Riam Institute of Technology (RiamTec) brought new meaning to their Gawai celebration by hosting a vibrant campus event that blended cultural heritage with community service. Spearheaded by the RiamTec Student Council, the Gawai Charity Event 2025 meant to raise funds and awareness for Zero Stray Miri, a non-profit organisation dedicated to the protection and care of stray animals. Representing the state Transport Minister, Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin, Councillor Victor Lau officiated at the event, which he hailed as 'a powerful example of youth-led change, combining cultural celebration with civic responsibility'. 'By championing the welfare of stray animals, you are showing that compassion and care are values that should be embedded in all living beings in our society.' Organising chairman Austin Liew, meanwhile, extended his appreciation to everyone who supported the event, including the lecturers, alumni and fellow students. 'This year, we celebrate Gawai while giving back to the community.' The celebration featured a lively cultural showcase, including a sape showcase, 'Kumang' and 'Keling' pageants, and a variety of multicultural performances. Also present were RiamTec assistant chief executive officer Richard Liu, Riam Road Secondary School principal Kong Pei Chuen, and RiamTec manager Beryl Goh. Gawai lead Lee Kim Shin RiamTec
The Star
20 hours ago
- The Star
JitFest 2025 spotlights 'Visits', a darkly comic take on three women's stories
After 22 years, the late Jit Murad's morbidly witty and emotionally layered play Visits returns to the stage with renewed force. This bold revival features a striking cast – Sofia Jane, Nabila Huda and Nadia Aqilah – breathing new life into a work that remains as sharp, unsettling, and relevant as ever. Presented by Dramalab and directed by Ida Nerina, the play is part of the year-long JitFest 2025, held in memory of the beloved Malaysian theatre icon, who died of a heart attack in 2022 at the age of 62. Visits will be performed at the Nero theatre space, Petaling Jaya Performing Arts Centre (PJPac), 1 Utama Shopping Centre from June 20-29. Originally staged at The Actors Studio Box, Plaza Putra, Dataran Merdeka in KL in January 2002, this upcoming revival revisits the psychological and surreal layers of Jit's text while preserving his signature razor-sharp wit. 'Visits holds a mirror to everything we're almost afraid to admit – and makes us laugh through it. Jit wrote women like no one else: layered, contradictory, loving, cruel, and heartbreakingly human, perhaps even stronger than his male characters,' says Ida, who first stepped into directing for the stage with Visits all those years ago. The inaugural JitFest 2025, organised by Dramalab, honours the legacy of Jit Murad and keeps his memory alive through stage, storytelling, and celebration. Photo: The Star/Filepic It was part of the "Director's Workshop" series in 2001 organised by Five Arts Centre and The Actors Studio, with Ida participating as one of the directors. Back in February 2003, Ida also directed Visits at The Actors Studio Bangsar, as part of Dramalab's 10th anniversary celebrations. For Ida, Visits holds a special place – both as an actor and director – having been involved since its earliest iteration. She was part of the initial reading when Jit first presented the work as three short monologues at the British Council in Kuala Lumpur in 1994, alongside Liza Othman and Sukania Venugopal. The Visits story unfolds in a room at a high-end mental wellness facility, where the recovering Woman (Nabila), her relentless Sister-in-Law (Nadia), and the enigmatic Nurse (Sofia) engage in a tightly-wound power play. Together, they confront themes of mental health, class, motherhood, and the delicate balance between care and this new iteration, however, Ida hints that she's giving it 'a slightly different twist'. Sofia steps into the role of the Nurse in the upcoming staging of Jit Murad's 'Visits', bringing her own presence and perspective to one of the play's most emotionally grounded characters. Photo: The Star/Glenn Guan 'The first couple of times I directed it, I kept it safe and stuck to the surface. So this time, I wanted to go deeper on the subject of mental health and mental well-being," says Ida. 'The humour is still very much there, there's no escaping it in a Jit Murad production, but I think the deeper layers of his intentions are also there now,' she adds. Even if Jit once called it a straightforward work, there's no such thing as a truly straightforward play in his world – only layers hidden in plain sight, waiting to be felt between the lines. "This is perhaps the simplest play I've written. Which isn't to say I don't love it as much as all the other plays I've have spawned. Let me try to explain what I mean by 'simple': I wasn't driven by too large a theme," wrote Jit in his playwright notes in the Jit Murad Plays drama anthology (2017). The weight we carry For Nabila, who's more often seen on screen in films and TV dramas, theatre offers a unique challenge – one she finds herself continually drawn back to. 'One of the things I love about theatre is that I can play multiple characters that I might not get to on screen. The vibe is totally different," says Nabila. 'In Visits, there's a lot of layers to 'Woman' – she's raw and wild and outspoken. But she also kept a lot of things to herself, which weighed her down. Portraying her highlighted to me the importance of speaking out,' she adds. For Nadia, Visits marks her return to the stage after a five-year hiatus, and stepping into the role of the Sister-in-Law carries added significance. Nabila plays The Woman in a restaging of Jit Murad's 'Visits', a sharp, surreal take on mental health, class, and the fine line between care and control. Photo: The Star/Glenn Guan As a new mother, she feels a deeper connection to the emotional complexities of the character, and is grateful for the chance to re-enter theatre through a role that mirrors the contradictions and intensity of care, identity, and womanhood. 'Becoming a mother has changed my perspective on things, which influences how I take on my roles. I think I'm more empathetic now," says Nadia. 'In this version, we're trying to put a different spin on each character – humanise them and give them more nuance. So for Sister-in-Law, things aren't as they seem on the surface,' she adds. For Sofia, Visits is both familiar ground and fresh terrain. She first inhabited the role of the Sister-in-Law in the original 2002 staging, but returns now as the Nurse – an enigmatic presence in the play's psychological triangle. 'Before, Liza Othman's take was very motherly, like your typical 'makcik' next door. But when we read the script again, we realised that there's a darkness to the character that hasn't been fully explored yet in previous stagings," says Sofia. 'So hopefully we'll bring a fresh take that surprises those who saw the previous productions. And for first-time audiences, I think there'll be plenty that resonates –things that will feel relatable and spark conversations afterward,' she adds. For Nadia, 'Visits' marks her return to the stage after a five-year hiatus, and stepping into the role of the Sister-in-Law carries added significance. Photo: The Star/Glenn Guan In her director's notes for Visits in the Jit Murad Plays collection, Ida penned an insightful reflection on character work and Jit's writing: 'I learned relatively early on in my own acting career that a good character causes you to dig deep and find layers and layers, much like an onion. For me, Jit's women are always so interesting, to say the least. I believe he bases them on his own beloveds – his mother, aunts, sisters and friends – as they're all so perfectly imperfect.' On stage at PJPac this week, these roles will once again come alive – complex, flawed, and deeply human – a testament to how vividly Jit wrote the women in his life into his plays. Reaching out To support mental health awareness, organisers Dramalab will also hold a charity matinee on June 22. All the proceeds for the show will go towards the Malaysian Mental Health Association (MMHA) in support of its work in helping women and children in mental crisis. 'Even though we often struggle in securing funding for our shows, I felt that it was really important to give to those who might need it even more," says Ida. 'The play talks about different backgrounds, the dynamics of social class, of power play, of control, and also, for me, it's the mental health and child separation, which is why I thought MMHA would be a great beneficiary,' she adds. After the special matinee show, a short discussion will be held in collaboration with MMHA, exploring the experiences of living with mental illness as well as the perspective of a caregiver. Visits will be staged at Nero, PJPac, 1 Utama Shopping Centre, Petaling Jaya from June 20-29, with a special charity matinee show on June 22. More info here.
The Star
20 hours ago
- The Star
IAMM preps 'More Than A Day As A Tiger' exhibition on Tipu Sultan's legacy
Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia's 'More Than A Day As A Tiger' exhibition, opening Aug 6, will showcase nearly 100 rare artefacts from its collection spotlighting the legacy of Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan of Mysore, India. Photo: The Star/Izzrafiq Alias This August, the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia (IAMM) in Kuala Lumpur unveils More Than A Day As A Tiger: The Legacy Of Haider Ali And Tipu Sultan Of Mysore — a major exhibition honouring two of 18th-century South Asia's most formidable figures. Running from Aug 6 to Jan 15, 2026, at IAMM's Special Gallery 2, the show features exhibits drawn entirely from IAMM's extensive collection. More Than A Day As A Tiger casts the spotlight on Haider Ali and his son Tipu Sultan, legendary rulers of Mysore whose defiance against British colonial power continues to echo through time. Through a display of nearly 100 artefacts and rare historical records, the exhibition will highlight their lasting legacy, remarkable military leadership, and cultural influence during a transformative era marked by resistance, resilience, and reform. Among the highlights: a gold tiger-head finial from Tipu Sultan's 18th-century throne, set with diamonds, emeralds, and rubies. Photo: IAMM 'Even though the reigns of Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan lasted for less than 40 years, they made an indelible mark on the history of Britain and the Indian Subcontinent," outlines the exhibition notes. Tipu Sultan, famously dubbed the "Tiger of Mysore" by the British, became a powerful symbol of resistance when he fell defending his capital, Srirangapatna, in 1799. His death marked the collapse of Mysore and the triumph of the British East India Company, which looted his palace, weapons, court paintings and treasures. A priceless tiger-head finial, believed to be part of Tipu Sultan's legendary gold throne, is one of the exhibition's main highlights, alongside a flintlock blunderbuss (acquired by IAMM in 2005), which is lavishly decorated with bubri (tiger stripe) motifs and gold inlay. The historic weapon, manufactured at one of Tipu Sultan's armouries located in Patan (Srirangapatna), India by a local gunsmith around 1797, also bears a Persian inscription – a poem that extols its formidable power. The exhibits include an embroidered quiver and arm guards, a matching belt, and seven decorated arrows from 18th-century Mysore. Photo: IAMM IAMM's Tipu Sultan collection also includes an array of other weapons, including sporting guns, pistols and cannons. The exhibition also explores the symbolic use of the tiger across Tipu Sultan's military and personal belongings – from bubri-patterned swords and hilts to embroidered archery gear and quilted helmets. 'These artefacts will appear alongside archival documents, paintings, engravings, coins and much more. This collection testifies to the bravery of Tipu Sultan, who was famously associated with the quote, 'It is better to live like a tiger for a day, than to live like a jackal for 100 years,'' highlights the curatorial text. For history enthusiasts and curious minds, the exhibition offers a rare glimpse into a chapter that connects the Islamic world with South-East Asia's colonial past. More Than A Day As A Tiger marks IAMM's second major exhibition of the year, following the recently concluded Oceans That Speak: Islam And The Emergence Of The Malay World, which examined the historical and cultural impact of maritime trade on the spread of Islam and the shaping of the Malay world. A series of public programmes and activities will accompany IAMM's upcoming exhibition, offering visitors deeper insight into the legacy of Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan.
