EIC404 e-Portfolio: Celebrations in Every Ethnics by MUHAMMAD AMIRUL IRSYAD JOHARI

MUHAMMAD AMIRUL IRSYAD BIN JOHARI ||LG243 || 2023225838

2023225838_ — 2023-10-23 16:12:53 UTC

Table of Content

2023225838_ — 2023-10-23 16:16:43 UTC

1. Bajau
2. Iban
3. Kadazan Dusun
4. Melanau
5. Murut

2023225838_ — 2023-10-23 16:19:59 UTC

This e-portfolio will be covered the different celebration of Malaysia culture specifically Bajau, Iban, Kadazan Dusun, Melanau, Murut.

Who are the Bajau Tribe?

2023225838_ — 2023-10-25 06:53:24 UTC

The second-largest ethnic group in Sabah is the Bajau people. Within the Bajau tribe, there are two different groups: the East Coast Bajau and the West Coast Bajau.

West Coast residents are known as the "Cowboys of the East" because of their skillful riding.

Found on the east coast, the Bajau Laut are known as "Sea Gypsies" since they spend their entire lives at sea. Renowned free divers from the East Coast Bajau are capable of submerging for up to five minutes without the need for oxygen tanks.

Regatta Lepa

2023225838_ — 2023-10-25 07:34:02 UTC

The annual Lepa Regatta in April is a well-known event for ethnic Bajau. The Bajau Kubang, Bajau Ubian, Bajau Sengkuang, Bajau Sampulna, and Bajau Simunul are among the tribes that comprise the ethnic group known as Bajau. The Semporna area of Sabah is home to most of these tribes.

This festival is a symbol for the Bajau Laut tribe, a Sabah-based ethnic group of Bajaus in particular, which embodies their way of life via the construction of boats for trade, communication, and transportation.

Event Highlights

2023225838_ — 2023-10-25 07:47:39 UTC

The festival is distinguished by its dynamic Dragon Boat Race, highlighted by a vivid water parade where boats, adorned in lively decorations, symbolize individual families or villages. This festive occasion, incorporating special competitions like the "kelleh-kelleh" race, tug of war, and a duck-catching contest, encapsulates a spirit of celebration, attracting participants and onlookers from diverse backgrounds and nationalities.

2023225838_ — 2023-10-25 07:57:05 UTC

The Iban: A strong warrior tribe

2023225838_ — 2023-10-26 00:51:20 UTC

A part of Borneo's Dayak people are the Ibans. The majority of Ibans in Malaysia are found in Sarawak, with a smaller number also in Sabah and few in western Malaysia.

During the British colonial era, they were referred to as Sea Dayaks. Ibans were known for expanding their tribes and territories through headhunting.

The Ibans were a violent and strong warrior tribe in Borneo long ago, and they were greatly feared there. They communicate in Iban.

Gawai Dayak

2023225838_ — 2023-10-26 00:55:30 UTC

The term "Dayak" refers to the several indigenous ethnic groups of Sarawak, including the Iban, Bidayuh, Kayan, Kenyah, Kelabit, Murut, Lun Bawang, and many more. The word "Gawai" comes from the Iban language and denotes a ceremony or event.

Gawai Dayak is a time of togetherness, thanksgiving to god and nature for a bountiful harvest, and prayer for a peaceful and happy future. It also marks the conclusion of the padi (rice) harvesting season.

Festival Highlights

2023225838_ — 2023-10-26 00:58:28 UTC

Kumang (Queen) and Keling (King) Gawai competitions, Ngirup Ai Pengayu (Long Life Drink), traditional dancing, and general revelry are typical celebration activities.

Let's get to know about Kadazan Dusun

2023225838_ — 2023-10-26 01:13:44 UTC

With twelve tribes known as Dusun Papar, Dusun Putatan, Dusun Penampang, Dusun Ranau, Dusun Lotud, Kiau Hamlet, Rungus Hamlet, Tagas Hamlet, Tempasuk Hamlet, Tambunan Hamlet, Tatana Hamlet, and Hamlet Furnace or Begahak, the Kadazandusun ethnic group is the largest indigenous ethnic group in Sabah.

Ethnic Kadazandusun who reside in the hill valleys of Ranau, Tambunan, and Penampang as well as on the west coast in towns like Papar, Tuaran, Kiulu, Tamparuli, Tenghilan, and Kota Belud

Kaamatan Festival

2023225838_ — 2023-10-26 01:20:26 UTC

Kaamatan is an important holiday in East Malaysia. Tadau Kaamatan is an annual harvest festival celebrated by numerous ethnic groups in Sabah, especially the Rungus people, Murut people, and Kadazandusun people—the largest indigenous ethnic group in Sabah. During this festival of thanksgiving, farmers give thanks to God, Bambaazon, and the rice spirit for a bountiful harvest.

Sabah is located in the northern part of Borneo Island. Situated on the western coast of Sabah, Labuan is a Federal Territory consisting of six smaller islands and Labuan Island. Sabah is home to the well-known Borneo Island, the only island shared by Brunei, Malaysia, and Indonesia. This is an interesting fact about Sabah.

Festival Highlights

2023225838_ — 2023-10-26 01:24:33 UTC

The Kamaatan Festival is celebrated with a variety of events, competitions, and performances. For instance, the Sumazau ethnic traditional dance performance of Kadazandusun is performed by male and female dancers dressed traditionally, to the sound of gongs and other traditional instruments.

In addition, there's the Sugandoi singing competition, the Unduk Ngadau beauty pageant, and a display of different Kadazandusun cuisine and handicrafts.

The Kaamatan Festival serves a hidden purpose of fostering community cohesion by organizing a large-scale, cooperative celebration.

2023225838_ — 2023-10-26 01:27:58 UTC

2023225838_ — 2023-10-29 00:57:04 UTC

Who is Murut people?

2023225838_ — 2023-10-29 01:18:34 UTC

The third-largest ethnic group in Sabah, the Murut, is well-known for its yearly Kalimaran Festival. The twelve factions that make up the Murut community are Murut Tahol, Murut Gana, Murut Keningau (Nabai), Murut Timugon, Murut Beaufort, Murut Bookan (Tangara), Murut Paluan, Murut Sumambu or Tagal, Murut Kolod (Okolod), Murut Selungai, Murut Sembakung, Murut Kalabakan, and Murut Serudung.

The ethnic group known as Murut is committed to a variety of beliefs, which are represented in customs that are handed down through the years.

Kalimaran Festival

2023225838_ — 2023-10-29 01:31:26 UTC

The term "kalimaran," which is a compound of "ralaa" and "alimar," refers to the steps involved in making handicrafts from Murut. Alimar is diligent, trustworthy, psychologically tough, and a young woman named Ralaa.

The Kalimaran Festival is based on the folktale of the Murut people. Yolomor, Ralaa's brother, financed him on the belief that Ralaa might help the entire town.

Ralaa used resources from the bush, such as bamboo, rattan, and onot, to create a variety of handicrafts before she was sacrificed, including mats, silaung, tikalis, buyung, lontoyong, and onot. Ralaa's last craft is weaving Sampoi cloth using threads from tin trees. Finally, Ralaa was sacrificed by his brother, buried according to custom, and believed to have grown seeds for agricultural fields. Finally, Ralaa was sacrificed by his brother, buried according to custom, and believed to have grown seeds for agricultural fields.

Festival Highlights

2023225838_ — 2023-10-29 01:46:57 UTC

This celebration is accompanied by a number of artistic events, such as cooking, singing, dance, and crafting.

2023225838_ — 2023-10-29 01:47:21 UTC

Melanau: A people of river

2023225838_ — 2023-10-29 02:20:40 UTC

One of Sarawak's original colonizers is thought to have been the Melanau people. The Melanau have only recently started using the word melanau to refer to themselves. They call themselves a-likou, which means "people of the river." As per the local customs, the inhabitants of the riverbanks and coastal marsh flats in central Sarawak were called Melanau by a former Bruneian Sultan.

The Melanau people live in a low-lying marshy plain with dense tropical forest cover along Sarawak's coastline. They are mostly found in the towns of Mukah, Matu, Daro, Dalat, Bintulu, Kanowit, and Sibu.

Kaul Festival

2023225838_ — 2023-10-29 02:52:42 UTC

The people who live around Sarawak's shore, known as the Melanau group, traditionally celebrate the Kaul festival. Since Kaul was originally observed as a religious rite to appease the spirits of the land, sea, forest, and farm, it holds the highest significance in the Melanau traditional calendar.

The festival is a ritual of thanksgiving and cleansing as well as a sacrifice for good fortune. These days, leaving a legacy is becoming more and more important. This is the formal start of the Melanau calendar, which runs from the end of the Northeast monsoon. Kaul occurs in the third week of April each year.

Festival Highlights

2023225838_ — 2023-10-29 02:55:39 UTC

The festival is being held on the Mukah River Estuary's right bank. There will be food sellers, entertainment, and traditional games for the entire week-long festival. The centerpiece will be the exquisitely decorated "Serahang," a flat, spherical basket made of sago leaves that is perched atop a bamboo pole. The Melanau community's elders will serve as its leaders.

Two must-do activities are playing the gigantic swing (Tibau) and savoring the traditional Melanau food (Keman Baw Bateng, or "Makan Beradat" in Malay).

2023225838_ — 2023-10-29 02:58:59 UTC

References

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References

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References

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References

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References

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2023225838_ — 2023-11-02 03:13:32 UTC

Reflection based on Cultural Awareness - Muhammad Amirul Irsyad

Cultural Significance

2023225838_ — 2023-11-10 07:54:32 UTC

Dragon Boat Race crafted to honor the profound bond the Bajau Laut, a nomadic Sea Gypsy community, shares with water. Central to the celebration is the traditional single-mast sailing boat known as "Lepa," representing not just the cultural richness of Sabah State but also attracting an increasingly diverse global audience.

Nighttime Festivities

2023225838_ — 2023-11-10 08:26:52 UTC

The festival transforms into lively nighttime celebrations, showcasing a Lepa beauty pageant, dazzling fireworks, engaging cultural and traditional performances, and the renowned igal-igal dance of the Bajau people. Continuing into the night at the Semporna stadium, the festivities include a spirited 'Lepa Car' contest, contributing to a vibrant atmosphere enjoyed by both participants and spectators.

Hari Gawai Overview

2023225838_ — 2023-11-13 08:01:44 UTC

The Dayak people of Malaysia, consisting include the tribes of Bidayuh, Kenyah, Iban, Murut, Kayan, and Kelabit, celebrate the Gawai Dayak Festival, also known as Hari Gawai.

The Hari Gawai event honors the bountiful harvest and the strategizing of upcoming prospects. It's an occasion of harvest and gratitude. It celebrates the religious and social beliefs of the Dayak people and stands for cooperation, aspiration, and hope.

Origin and Historical Background

2023225838_ — 2023-11-13 08:11:24 UTC

Origins: Tracing back to 1957, the Hari Gawai Festival is an annual celebration rooted in the traditions of the Dayak people of Sarawak and Sabah, Malaysia.
Recognition: Although the festival's existence was acknowledged in 1962, it wasn't until September 25, 1964, that the British government formally designated it as a public holiday.
Inaugural Celebration: The festival's inaugural official celebration took place on June 1, 1965, and has continued annually since.

The journey of Hari Gawai reflects its evolution from a longstanding cultural practice to a recognized and celebrated public event, marked by gratitude and cultural significance.

Celebration Rituals

2023225838_ — 2023-11-13 08:30:21 UTC

On May 31, the evening's Muai Antu Rua rite kicks off the Hari Gawai celebrations, which are intended to drive away the spirits of greed and misfortune. In the Iban longhouse, during this ritual, two people pass a winnowing basket (chapan) around each family's room, where members of the family throw away undesirable goods into the basket. The basket is then flung to the ground from the longhouse end, signifying the banishing of evil luck.

The Ai Pengayu ceremony, in which the Tuai Rumah leads everyone in drinking tuak for a long life, begins at midnight with the sound of a gong. 'Gayu-guru, gerai-nyamai,' which means long life, health, and wealth, is exchanged by participants. The Ngalu Petara procession then makes its way through the whole longhouse to greet the spirits. Poetry recitations, music concerts, and traditional dances are all part of the celebrations.

The next day is filled with events like blowpipe performances, dancing competitions, and cockfighting. As part of Masu Pengabang, the Dayak people welcome guests into their homes and serve them tuak before they enter the longhouse. The Hari Gawai festival is open to visitors for several days as it takes place.

Highlights of Hari Gawai

2023225838_ — 2023-11-13 08:34:08 UTC

Food and Drinks: Hari Gawai is incomplete without traditional food and drinks. A special drink called tuak is brewed a month before the festival. Langkau, an alcoholic drink, is made by distilling tuak over the fire. The feast includes delicious cakes, meat, and fish.

Longhouse Decorations: Before the festival, the longhouse is cleaned and fixed using timber from nearby forests. Inside walls are adorned with ukir murals depicting wildlife motifs. The longhouse proudly displays decorated shields, brassware, and even human skulls.

Traditional Dress: People wear Nigepan, a traditional costume, when guests arrive. Men wear loincloths, animal skin coats, and various accessories, while women wear hand-woven cloth, silver belts, and other traditional items.

Dance: The Ngajat and Ajat dances are performed during Hari Gawai. These dances involve precise, graceful movements with occasional battle shouts. Traditional music accompanies the Ngajat dance, featuring percussion, small and big gongs, and drums.

Hari Gawai is a vibrant celebration highlighted by traditional attire, lively dances, and a rich array of food and drinks, showcasing the cultural richness and joy of the Dayak community

When is Kaamatan Festival held

2023225838_ — 2023-11-14 12:14:38 UTC

Kaamatan, which means "harvest" in the Kadazandusun language, is celebrated in May. The Kaamatan festival is represented in the modern world by a joyful day spent with loved ones, full of cultural activities, delectable food, and imaginative costumes that let everyone express their gratitude to one another. Sabah declares May 30-31, the official dates of this grand celebration, to be public holidays.

The History of Kaamatan Festival

2023225838_ — 2023-11-14 12:33:07 UTC

The origins of the Kaamatan Festival can be traced back to a historical myth, making it more than just a celebration marking the start of harvest season awareness.

Every year, the Kaamatan Festival, also known as Tadau Kaamatan, is held to honor Kinoingan the God, who provides for the Kadazan-Dusun people despite their abundant harvest, and the rice spirit known as Bambaazon. It also seeks to uphold friendship and goodwill among the broader populace.

The people say that the God Kinoingan, who had a wife called Suminundu and a daughter named Huminodun, sacrificed his only daughter and dispersed her body parts like seeds throughout the world to feed the people. However, some people think that the rice plant came out of her body and that Bambaazon, the rice spirit, was a part of her body spirit. Rice plants in Bambaazon were protected from pests and natural calamities like floods. Their survival is dependent on their rice harvest, so the Kadazandusun must preserve the happiness of the Bambaazon through a variety of rites, ceremonies, and celebrations.

Cultural Importance

2023225838_ — 2023-11-18 14:11:43 UTC

The Kaul celebration is an annual event marked by great fervor, kinship, hospitality, and gratitude.
The Melanau people, an indigenous ethnic group in Sarawak, Malaysia, practice animism and believe in spirits (ipok) governing different aspects of the world.

Traditional Practices

2023225838_ — 2023-11-18 14:14:37 UTC

The Melanau, in the old days, were animistic ('liko') and annually gave thanks to the spirits of the sea, land, wind, jungle, and river for a bountiful year.
The morning of Kaul begins at Lamin Dana Cultural Boutique Lodge, where visitors can experience staying in a longhouse museum, showcasing Melanau culture.
The celebration involves decorated flotillas of boats, adorned with woven nipah leaves, shaped like flowers, birds, and geometrical patterns

Ceremonial Process

2023225838_ — 2023-11-18 14:25:06 UTC

The Bapak Kaul, or head priest, leads the ceremonial procession with the Seraheng, a ceremonial basket.
The entourage includes community elders, village heads, and individuals dressed as ipoks (spirits).
The main boat leads to the ceremonial site on the estuary, with strict rules about other boats not being allowed ahead.
The Seraheng basket is planted in the ground, and offerings, including small baskets of food, are placed in the middle as a gesture of thanks to the spirits.
The ceremony, including chanting and offerings, takes about 1 hour.