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Greetings! I am Nur Hidayah binti Mohd Khidzir (2022813556) from LG2431A. Welcome to my padlet about 'Festivities Customs of 5 Ethnics in Malaysia'!

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In this portfolio, we will learn about the festivals celebrated by 5 Malaysian ethnics. Each of these ethnic festivities has its own unique customs that might surprise you.

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1. Kadazan : Pesta Kaamatan
2. Lun Bawang : Irau Aco
3. Mah Meri : Hari Moyang
4. Minangkabau : Makan Bajamba
5. Murut : Kalimaran Festival
6. Reflection : Cultural Appreciation

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Kadazan ethnic, also known as Kadazan-Dusun is the largest ethnic in Sabah. They are the predominantly cultivators of wet rice and hill rice. Kadazan-Dusun ethnic believes in animistic belief system that consist of various customs and practices.

One of the main highlight of Kadazan-Dusun's people customs and belief is Pesta Kaamatan (Harvest Festival) which is also the star of the show in this portfolio.

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The well-known Lun Bawang tribal community that exists in the Lawas district originates and lives in the highlands of Borneo, namely North Kalimantan, Brunei, Sabah and Sarawak. In Sarawak, they are classified in the Orang Ulu community group.

The Lun Bawang tribe means local people or indigenous people. The Lun Bawang tribe formerly known as Murut is also found along the coast of Sungai Lawas, Trusan and Limbang.

Lun Bawangs people annually celebrate the Irau Aco, which was traditionally a celebration of the rice harvest. So, what is Irau Aco?

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Mah Meri ethnic is an Indigenous ethnic group that are recognized in Malaysia from 18 other Indigenous ethnic groups. Mah meri arrived in Malaysia during the 15th century where they have mostly remained, on the shores of Bukit Bangkong. Currently, there are about 4,200± Mah Meri living in Selangor's west coast from Sungai Pelek up to Pulau Carey.

Mah Meri has one of the most unique customs and beliefs; a festival named Hari Moyang (Spirit's Day). Let's take a look at the Hari Moyang!

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Majority of the state of Negeri Sembilan is comprised by the Minangkabau ethnic, also known as the Minang. Minangkabau people are descendants from Minangkabau people from West Sumatra, Indonesia. Therefore, they have a distinct culture and their own royal line that dates back several centuries.

The Minangkabau people are still practicing Makan Bajamba to this day. Take a deep breath before surfing into the Makan Bajamba information!

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Murut ethnic is one of the largest indigenous groups in Sabah.
Murut comprise of subgroups such as:

Baukan

Gana'

Kalabakan

Okolod

Paluan

Sulangai

Serudung

Tagal

Timugon and the Beaufort

Keningau Murut

Murut literally translated to "hill people." Murut people  inhibit the interior and southeastern parts of Sabah and the territory straddling the Kalimantan and Sarawak borders.

Murut people are still practicing the Kalimaran Festival to this day. Curious about the Kalimaran Festival? Let's take a look on it!

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Pesta Kaamatan (Harvest Festival) is a unique celebration by Kadazan-Dusun people to honour the Rice Spirit, Bambaazon, also known as Bambarayon.

The Pesta Kaamatan was conducted to show their gratitude, giving thanks to the Rice Spirit (Bambaazon/Bambarayon) for a grateful and bountiful year.

On the first of May, Pesta Kaamatan begins at many district levels.

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In the ancient folklore, The Almighty God, Kinoingan or Minamagun did an ultimate deed by sacrificing Huminodun; his only beloved daughter to his people so that starvation could be avoided. Huminodun's parts of body were planted to grow plants.

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The High Priests or the Priestesses, also known as Bobohizan or Bobolian will conduct the ritual depending on the district that undertakes the preservation.

The Priests and Priestesses are addressed differently following their districts. (eg: Bobolian from Tambunan district | Bobohizan from Penampang).

The Bobohizan will select some stalks of rice that are left undistributed until the harvest is over during the Magavau ceremony and cut them down before the field is harvested. It will then be brought into the owner's house.

The Bobohizan were given a task which is to search for the lost Bambaazon (Rice Spirit) who are hurt or separated from the main mystical body and salvage it.

Back in old days, it was often to perform this ceremony in freshly harvested fields during the first full moon after the harvest. It was performed to invoke the rice spirit.

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Pesta Kaamatan ceremony were conducted to select the pageant queen, Unduk Ngadau, which translated as "Zenith of the Sun." Conceptually, Unduk Ngadau derives from the sacrifice of Huminodun. The selected Unduk Ngadau should bear semblance to Huminodun and represent all that is virtuous in the revered Huminodun.

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Foreigners' experience at Sabah Harvest Festival (Pesta Kaamatan 2022) 🇲🇾

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Hari Moyang is a ritual that appeases the spirits of the sea. It is the last traditional rituals that Mah Meri still practiced. They would offer their prayers to the spirit houses along the rivers in honour of the Spirit of the Rubber (Moyang Getah) saving a junk ship from a big storm off Pulau Carey.

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A day before the Hari Moyang ritual starts, at sunrise, the villagers will gather on the beach and take their boats out to the sea near the mouth of the river.

Popped rice would be thrown into the water there while the villagers that are still on the beach offer their prayers to the spirit houses along the river mouth.

The boats will be moved toward the sea in about 2km to a site where they believed that another junk boat had sunk as it was not saved by Moyang Getah.

The villagers then would seek an audience at sunset with their loved ones that have passed on at the sanggar altars near their houses.

The favourite food and drinks of the deceased would be offered and they will communicate verbally with them.

The shaman and his helpers would engage with the Moyang Getah in a trance throughout the night before the whole village march to the shore to offer a grand feast at a grand altar that had stood there for many years.

When the water had completely subsided from the grand altar, the celebration will start.

As the shaman goes into a trance while being possessed by the Moyang Getah and other spirits, dances and songs of praise accompanied him.

At the end of the festival, food and drinks brought by the villagers will be shared.

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There was a legend where a junk ship that carried passengers and goods was caught in a big storm at Pulau Carey, near Tanjung Rhu, in the Straits of Malacca. The islanders assumed that the ship did not survive the storm. However, to their surprise, the ship was dragged to the shore by an unknown force. The villagers believe that the Spirit of the Rubber (Moyang Getah) had saved the ships and its passengers. Therefore, Hari Moyang became a ceremony that has been practiced since then.

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Hari Moyang Mah Meri 2022 / Ancestor’s Day Mah Meri Tribe

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Hari Moyang Kaum Mah Meri penuh tradisi dan 'mistik'

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If you never heard of it, Kalimaran is an annual state-level festival for Murut culture in Murut Cultural Centre. It is a festival where Murut people celebrate their richness of their culture and present most of their cultural aspects.

The word Kalimaran itself refers to the craftmanship activities of the Muruts people. It was derived from the word ralaa, which means young lady, and alimar, which means hardworking, strong-minded, diligent and trustworthy.

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Back then, there was a young Murut lady named Ralaa who is very hardworking, strong-minded. diligent, and trustworthy. Many handicrafts like the tikar, silaung, tikalis, buyung, lintoyog and onot were produced by her.

All of them were produced by using raw materials like bamboo, rattan and bamban. By weaving cloth and scarf using thread which she produced from a timahan roots, she ended her kalimaran.

For the benefit of their own people, Ralaa was unfortunately sacrificed by her brother. Just to get seeds for Yolomor's cultivation farm, she was sacrificed.

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Makan Bajamba brings the meaning "eating together" which is still practiced to this day and is considered one of the main customs in festivals. Makan Bajamba is usually conducted during big festivities such as Islamic religious days, traditional ceremonies, traditional festivals, and other important events.

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Food (rice and various types of Minangkabau specialties) that has been cooked will be placed on a Jamba, a tray made out of woven leaves.

A cover made of woven palm leaves is wrapped to the Jamba with the food and on top of it is attached with Dalamak, a cloth embroidered with gold threads.

The Jamba will be carried by women on their heads and will be taken to the place where the activity/festival was carried out.

Makan Bajamba is usually held in a large room, hall, or building and is attended by tens to thousands of people.

Jamba will be placed in each circle of people (3-7 people per circle) and each circle has 1 servant in the middle.

Before the Makan Bajamba begins, it is usually preceded by various art events such as dances, exchanging poems, and the reading of holy verses of the Al-Quran.

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Prioritise the elder! : People must prioritise the elder when taking food.

Do not take food that is outside of your range in the Jamba! : People have to eat food within their range in Jamba (no taking food that is far from them).

Eat one thing at a time! : Eat one thing at a time (rice-side dish-rice-side dish).

Sit properly during the Makan Bajamba! : Men must be sitting in bersila (cross-legged) position and women must be sitting in bersimpuh (sitting-twisted).

Finish your food! : Every food that has been put on the Jamba must be finished. Not even a rice grain can be left.

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Kalimaran Festival is celebrated in April every year.

The diversity of the sub-ethnics of Murut groups is the highlight of the festival.

Usually, Kalimaran Festival was celebrated within a village. However, on the 4th and 5th of April 2003, the first state level Kalimaran Festival was held at the Sabah Murut Cultural Centre located at Kampung Pulong after the construction was finished.

At Kalimaran Festival, you can have a look on their traditional handicrafts.

You can also see Murut traditional dance, marriage ceremony, their folklore, and artifacts that are past down from generations (jars, urns and weapon).

Local food such as Tapai or Tuak, a wine that was made of fermented rice will be served and eaten at the festival.

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Pesta Kalimaran 2019 Tenom Sabah Malaysia | Pusat Kebudayaan Murut Sabah

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Irau Aco is a celebration of the rice harvest. This festival is also attended by the Muruts and Lundayah from across the borders.

Basically, Irau Aco is almost similar to Hari Gawai, which is also a harvest festival that is held after the harvest to thank the gods for a good harvest. Gawai means celebration but the Lun Bawangs call celebrations "Irau." However, Irau Aco is much more than visiting one another in open-house style.

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A carnival-like event with sports activities was held.

Other than sports activities, Lun Bawang's culture is showcased. Their culture such as music, dances, traditional handicraft exhibitions and their cuisines are being showcased on every year of Irau Aco.

Irau Aco will be held for two days which are on 1st and 2nd of June. It is the biggest gathering of Lun Bawang.

The Lun Bawang will also host the Nguip Suling (their famous home-grown bamboo flute band).

On the two days of the festival, a grand afternoon banquet will be hosted to feed the hungry guests to make the festival truly complete.

No alcohol will be served as it will not be a component of the Lun Bawang's Gawai/Irau festivities.

The Lun Bawang has 'Christianised' their harvest festival. Hence, on the special day, people will be invited to bring and offer their 10% of the harvest. A sunday will be set for the special offering of the harvest from the land.

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Who Are The Lun Bawang People? | Long Story Short

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Irau Aco Lun Bawang Festival, Lawas Sarawak Borneo Tribal Event 跨境婆罗洲游踪土著达雅竹音乐原住民部落传统文化仪式丰收节日