WHF 2017 set to wow visitors once again

KUCHING: The World Harvest Festival (WHF) will continue its role in presenting the state’s culture and tradition, apart from award-winning performances to everyone.

According to Assistant Minister for Arts and Culture Datuk John Sikie Tayai, the annual event serves as a prelude to the Gawai Dayak celebration on June 1.

This year, the WHF will be running from April 28 to 30 at Sarawak Cultural Village (SCV).

“The WHF aims to celebrate the diversity of the different ethnic groups in Sarawak and also to help enhance the understanding of the culture among locals and foreigners alike.

“Thus, it is an ideal place for people of different backgrounds to meet, discuss and compare notes on traditional cultures through the exchange of ideas, as well as the portrayal of the dances, music, crafts and arts. This enables the participants to discover something new and at the same time, appreciate their own cultural heritage,” he said at a press conference cum promotional event for WHF 2017 at a hotel here yesterday.

The WHF 2017 is being organised by SCV with supported from both state and federal ministries of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) and Sarawak Tourism Board.

The highlight of the festival will be a special play themed ‘Tra Tra Land – Where Honey Sparkles’. Other exciting programmes at the festival will be the ‘Miss Cultural Harvest Festival 2017’, ‘Ironman Challenge World Harvest Festival 2017’, ‘Sape World Concert and Workshop’ and ‘Sarawak Kitchen’.

On the special play, SCV general manager Jane Lian Labang said it would be based on a Bidayuh legend.

“It relates the story of Jurai, a Bidayuh lad who learned to harvest honey through a special song after his missing grandmother taught him in a dream. With this ability, Jurai managed to get the mystical honey that could only be found deep in the jungle of ‘Tra Tra Land’ and used it to cure Raja Manggeng’s only princess, who was suffering from a mysterious illness.

“This themed play will be staged near the lake at SCV on April 29,” she said.

For the ethnic beauty pageant, 12 finalists will vie for the Miss Cultural Harvest Festival 2017 crown during the grand finale on April 29.

“On the ‘Sape World Concert and Workshop’, we are pleased to share this festival with sape players from France, Japan, Brunei, Indonesia and Negeri Sembilan together with our very own Sarawak players in the concert on April 30, taking place at the SCV Theatre. The workshop will be conducted during the daytime,”  said Jane.

Meanwhile, the Ironman Challenge 2017 will have 15 brawny finalists battling it out throughout a series of obstacles such as the 50kg gunny sack lift-race, the Mount Santubong climb, blowpipe shooting and coconut de-husking with their bare hands.

“For food lovers, there will be Sarawak Kitchen with a culinary competition that is open to any nationality. Apart from giving our visitors the opportunity to savour interesting indigenous food of Sarawak, it also allows them to take part in the cooking competition,” said Jane, adding that all entry forms for the activities could be downloaded via the official WHF website (www.whf.com.my) and its Facebook page (World Harvest Festival).

The SCV is also offering its ‘Gawai Village Stay Tourism Package’ whereby guests will have the opportunity to experience, learn and take part in all the cultural activities there.

The special package runs from April 28 to June 4.

Another accommodation package is the Damai Beach Resort’s ‘WHF Package’ comprising a two-day, one-night stay at the resort for a family of two adults and two children, which includes breakfast and WHF 2017 tickets – all for only RM335.

This offer is only available for stays booked between April 28 and 30.

The WHF 2017 tickets are on sale at the SCV, going for RM60 for adult and RM30 per child, as well as via www.scv.com.my where they can be purchased online.

For more information, contact 082-826108/411, fax to 082-846988, or email to [email protected]