A girl performs the ngajat during the Gawai Antu celebration.
Chendang delivers his speech.
Longhouse folk and visitors help themselves to the food and drinks.
SIBU: Four families from Rumah Chendang, Sungai Assan celebrated Gawai Antu or Festival for Departed Souls on Monday.
Tuai Rumah Chendang Ambau said celebrating Gawai Antu needs a lot of planning and community cooperation is required.
“Another most important thing is that money is carefully saved by each of the families who want to celebrate the Gawai Antu because to finance the feast requires a big budget,” he said.
“During Gawai Antu, the beburong ceremony is among the important rituals held followed by the sacrifice of chickens and pigs. Besides that, other activities held are cockfighting and offering of rice to the departed souls to enliven the Gawai
Antu.”
Chendang added that Gawai Antu is a rare occasion, which is held at most once in a generation for any given longhouse.
He explained that the date chosen is both auspicious and practical so that advance notice can be given to friends and relatives both far and near to attend it.