KUCHING: State level ‘Gawai Celebration’ organised by Tourism Malaysia (Sarawak) and Ministry of Tourism and Heritage will be held at Kampung Annah Rais in Padawan on Sept 3.
The organising chairman Edward Kurik said the celebration was the second time ever aimed at promoting tradition and culture of the Bidayuhs in Padawan.
He said the festival more popularly known as ‘Gawai Tourism’ will also provide opportunity for tourists to see and understand first-hand the unique culture of the Bidayuhs and their traditional dances and games.
There are a lot of things that tourists can learn from this experience, he said yesterday.
Agencies involved in the event are Padawan Municipal Council and Village Security and Development Committee of Kampung Annah Rais.
He explained that there would also be a cultural exchange programme involving residents of Kampung Annah Rais when they received the visitors from Kampung Semban, during the celebration.
Those from Semban, a traditional village, will also display their own brand of unique culture which may be a bit different from
those of Annah Rais, he said.
The culture show will be held in the evening while stage show or concert by local artistes will be at night on Sept 3 evening.
The ‘Gawai Tourism’ event will be launched by deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Dr James Dawos Mamit. All Bidayuh elected representatives in the state are expected to attend the celebration, said Edward.
They are Mas Gading MP Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe, Serian MP Datuk Richard Riot, Bengoh assemblyman Dr Jerip Susil, Tarat assemblyman Roland Sagah, Tasik Biru assemblyman Datuk Peter Nansian, Tebedu assemblymaan Dato Sri Michael Manyin, Kedup assemblyman Martin Ben and Opar assemblyman Ranum Mina.