‘NGILING TIKAI’ CELEBRATION: Scene at the Gawai closing celebration held at DBKU headquarters lobby.
KUCHING: It was a relaxing and joyous occasion at the Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) headquarters here recently as staff were treated to a Gawai ‘Ngiling Tikai’ celebration.
The ceremony was held in conjunction with the closing of the Gawai Dayak celebration. DBKU Mayor Datuk Abang Abdul Wahap Abang Julai was the guest- of-honour at the celebration while the appointed ‘Tuai Rumah’ (longhouse chief) to head the celebration was DBKU deputy director of Administrative Control Services Department Andrew Joris Noyen.
“The Gawai celebration is unique in the sense that it is only celebrated in Sarawak and not anywhere else in the world. Our celebration today provides opportunity for the Dayak and non-Dayak people to witness and feel the tradition of the Gawai celebration,” said Abdul Wahap when officiating at the event.
Also present was DBKU director Dr Saadiah Abdul Samat.
He added that such an event would strengthen the solidarity amongst all personnel. With this, he hopes that other celebrations would be organised to promote better understanding of the traditions and culture of all races.
“These events mirror the close relations of our multi-racial community through the sharing of all the good values. Hopefully, we will continue with the organising of various events for other races. To me, this is in line with our 1Malaysia concept,” highlighted Abdul Wahap.
The inaugural event held under the longhouse setting at the headquarters lobby was the first to be held at such capacity. DBKU previously only organised the ‘Ramah-Tamah’ Hari Raya events.
Starting at 3.30 pm, DBKU personnel were treated to a karaoke session featuring famous up-beat Dayak songs. Joris led the crowd to the toasting of the ‘Ai Pengayu’ which was synonym with the eve of the Gawai celebration on May 31. The ‘Ai Pengayu’, where the Dayak normally uses rice wine, symbolises prosperity and longevity.
Among the events held yesterday apart from the cultural performances was a traditional Iban game, ‘Ngupas Tapang’. The game was held in a symbolic manner. Traditionally, one would have to climb the towering ‘Tapang’ tree to retrieve food and drinks that was placed on top. The ‘Ngupas Tapang’ event is usually linked to the Gawai Ranyai celebration.
Abdul Wahap and Joris then led other guests-of-honour to the ‘Ngiling Tikai’ event to mark the closing of the Gawai celebration.