MIRI – The over one million Dayaks in Sarawak are getting deeper into the pre-Gawai festive mood a week before the month-long harvest festival starts on June 1.
After enduring two years of the deadly Covid-19 crisis that left more than 300,000 infected and more than 3,000 dead throughout Sarawak, the community is looking forward to celebrating the traditional event.
Yesterday, a colourful pre-Gawai public parade took place in the remote Kapit division in the heart of central Sarawak.
A large group of Dayaks took to the streets of a town called Song, located about six hours by boat from Sibu town.
Dressed in traditional costumes and headgear, they paraded through the town, dancing to the tune of their traditional music. The state Public Communications Unit today described it as the ‘Niti Daun’ ritual.
Various community organisations, civil service groups, school teams and parent-teacher associations, as well as village committees took part in the colourful parade, said the unit in its latest update.
The parade was to showcase the colourful costumes of the Dayaks. A ‘miring’ (traditional native rites) was also carried out.
There will not be any more Covid-19 curbs imposed on the Gawai Dayak festival.
The latest public notice issued last Friday by the state Disaster Management Committee said that all events related to the Gawai celebrations in homes, longhouses and communities at large will be allowed to be staged at full capacity.
All prayer rituals for Gawai Dayak will be allowed at 100% capacity in attendance, the committee said.
All indoor and outdoor Gawai gatherings are also permitted, including during the pre-Gawai period.
Meanwhile, Deputy Premier Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian recently urged Sarawakians who are still hesitant to go for their second booster jab against Covid-19 to be wary of a possible infection surge during the coming Gawai rush.
Last week, another lawmaker had warned that many Sarawakians are refusing their second booster jabs despite the risk posed by the virus.
Batang Lupar MP Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim had said there is already a high level of complacency with regard to the attitude of the general public concerning Covid-19.
Speaking at a Hari Raya gathering in Simanggang town today, she said despite the vaccines being medically confirmed as effective in protecting a person against a serious attack of Covid-19, many are still refusing to take the booster injections.
On May 6, Sibu Disaster Management Committee adviser Dr Annuar Rapaee reminded that the Covid-19 crisis in Sarawak is still a worry.
“Even though the authorities have relaxed many of the strict SOPs, it does not mean there are no more dangers of infections,” he said. – The Vibes, May 23, 2022
