Hari Gawai
Next: June 1, 2027
A longhouse toast to a good harvest.
The story
Where it comes from
Gawai Dayak marks the end of the rice harvest for the Dayak peoples of Sarawak, among them the Iban, Bidayuh, Kayan, Kenyah, Kelabit and Lun Bawang. Gawai is Iban for 'ritual' or 'festival'. For generations each community held its own Gawai after the harvest, with no shared date. In 1963 Michael Buma hosted a Gawai on 1 June at his home in Kuching; the date was gazetted as a public holiday on 25 September 1964, and Sarawak first celebrated it officially on 1 June 1965. It is a time of thanks for the harvest and prayers for the year ahead.
How it's celebrated
On Gawai eve a longhouse holds a miring, an offering in which the chief thanks the gods for the harvest and asks for blessings and long life. Before midnight young men and women in traditional dress walk the gallery seven times to welcome the spirits. When the gong sounds at midnight, everyone drinks ai pengayu, the rice wine of long life. On 1 June doors open to guests, with tuak, food and ngajat dancing.
Did you know
- The midnight wish gayu guru, gerai nyamai is Iban for 'long life, health and prosperity'.
- Many longhouses and towns hold Kumang and Keling Gawai contests to crown a festival queen and king in traditional dress.
- Gawai is a two-day public holiday in Sarawak, on 1 and 2 June.
The greeting
Selamat Hari Gawai · Gayu guru, gerai nyamai
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