The ring ladies of Semban ready to welcome visitors to the upcoming Bengoh Cultural Carnival.
KUCHING: The Bengoh Cultural Carnival from May 22 to 24 means a lot to the people in promoting the area as a tourist destination among local and foreign tourists, says Assistant Minister of Public Health Datuk Dr Jerip Susil.
He said the hosting of Bengoh Cultural Carnival at the Bengoh Resettlement Scheme near Kpg Semadang in Jalan Puncak Borneo was meant to showcase the local cultures, traditions, costumes and the people’s life style.
“It is not merely a cultural and entertainment event but has a more important message to enhance better relationships among the people, especially those living in Bengoh constituency,” he said at the opening of the Bengoh Cultural Carnival 2015 and Padawan International 4X4 Extreme Off-Roaders Challenge here recently.
Dr Jerip added that the carnival would generate many economic activities as it allowed petty traders and hawkers to earn extra money.
“There are visitors who may be staying at nearby homestays and this will definitely bring extra income to the (homestay) operators,” he added.
He also said the carnival could be used to promote agriculture produce, handicraft items, local food and local culture.
He thus called on all quarters to support the carnival as it focused on unity and solidarity, adding that if the event proved successful it would be made an annual activity in the area.
Dr Jerip also said that during the activity-packed, three-day festival, members of the public would have an opportunity to meet in-person the world’s renowned six-member Bidayuh sub-tribe ladies wearing copper rings (‘ruyang’ and ‘rasung’) around their forearms and calves.
They are not the long-necked Karen women from northern Thailand or Myanmar but the ‘Dayung Sangon’ or beautiful ladies (during their teenage years) of Kampung Semban in upper Padawan, who have moved down from their original village to the Bengoh Resettlement Scheme.
“The ladies will dress in their traditional costumes and sit on the traditional Gawai ceremony platform welcoming visitors to the festival while interested members of the public can have photographs taken with them in exchange for a little token,” said Dr Jerip.
Apart from the ring ladies, Dr Jerip said the carnival would also bring together modern music enthusiasts as the ‘battle of the bands’, while the young generation would have the opportunity to watch the gong-beating competition and cultural performance from five cultural troupes invited to perform.
The outdoor activities would be the traditional games involving blowpipe and tug-of-war as well as the final match of the Datuk Dr Jerip Susil football challenge trophy to be played on May 23, starting 4pm.
“The highlight of the carnival is the Miss Cultural Bengoh beauty pageant contest on May 23 at Kampung Bojong Pain community hall. Minister of Social Development Tan Sri William Mawan will be the guest-of-honour for the evening,” said Dr Jerip.
At a temporary track behind BRS is the Padawan International 4X4 Extreme Off-Roaders Challenge which draws 60 teams from as far as Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia, apart from the local teams.