Kaamatan & Gawai 2009

The Kursk Malaysian Medical Student Association wishes all Sabahans and Sarawakians a joyful Kaamatan and Gawai Festival 2009.

A little note on the Kaamatan Festival

The word Kaamatan is derived from the root word tomot, a Kadazandusun term for harvest. Here , Kaamatan refers to the paddy-harvesting period, which involves a series of traditional rituals culminating finally to the Kaamatan (harvest) festival.

The Kaamatan Festival is an annual event in the cultural life of the Kadazandusuns of Sabah since time immemorial. In its deepest sense, Kaamatan festival is a manifestation of Creator and Creation relationship, as well as Inter-Creations relationship. It embodies the principal acts of invocation of divinities, appeasing, purification and restoration, re-union of benevolent spirits, and thanksgiving to the Source of All. It is part of a complex wholesome Momolian religious system centered on the paddy rites of passage and the life cycle of Bambarayon - the in-dwelling spirit of paddy.

Click here to know more about the Kaamatan Festival and how it is celebrated.

The Gawai Dayak Festival

Gawai Day or Gawai Dayak is a festival celebrated in Sarawak on 1 June every year. It is both a religious and social occasion. The word Gawai means a ritual or festival whereas Dayak is a collective name for the native ethnic groups of Sarawak: Iban, Bidayuh, Kayan, Kenyah, Kelabit, and Lun Bawang among others. Thus, Gawai Dayak literally means "Dayak Festival". Dayak would visit their friends and relatives on this day. Such visit is more commonly known as "ngabang" in the Iban language. Those too far away to visit would receive greeting cards.

Read more about the Gawai Dayak festival here.

Join us in the joint celebration of Kaamatan and Gawai Festival today.

"Tamu Gadang Gawai Kaamatan KMSA 2009"

Date: 31st May 2009, Sunday.

Time: 3.00 pm

Venue: Pad Fak Hall.

Kotobian tadau tagazo do ka'amatan