Location : Kampung Kiding, Padawan, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.

The last ‘official’ Gawai was done a decade ago which was why Mr Bakas the headman insisted we visit the village to witness this year’s celebration, complete with a colourful presentation of their ladies in their own unique attire and most important of all the offerings to the kamangs or devas that reside in the nearby Mount Menuang.

authentic, Borneo, culture, dance, dayak, Ethnic, event, Gawai Sawa, indigenous, Kuching, Malaysia, native, outdoors, Padawan, paddy harvest festival, Sarawak, thanksgiving, traditional, tribal, tribe, vilage
Waiting for the ceremony to start. In front of headman house

Sad to note that the one and only person qualified to perform this ritual is ‘Ketua Adat’ Sep ak Taot and he probably will be the last as more and more villagers convert to Christianity. Surprisingly, although Kiding has a baruk this ceremony was not performed there but at Bakas’ house instead. Maybe I will find out why later.

authentic, Borneo, culture, dance, dayak, Ethnic, event, Gawai Sawa, indigenous, Kuching, Malaysia, native, outdoors, Padawan, paddy harvest festival, Sarawak, thanksgiving, traditional, tribal, tribe, vilage
‘Ketua Adat’ Sep ak Taot performed the ritual

authentic, Borneo, culture, dance, dayak, Ethnic, event, Gawai Sawa, indigenous, Kuching, Malaysia, native, outdoors, Padawan, paddy harvest festival, Sarawak, thanksgiving, traditional, tribal, tribe, vilage authentic, Borneo, culture, dance, dayak, Ethnic, event, Gawai Sawa, indigenous, Kuching, Malaysia, native, outdoors, Padawan, paddy harvest festival, Sarawak, thanksgiving, traditional, tribal, tribe, vilageI noticed that the dance ritual performed by the ladies were very similar to that of Sungkung Senebeh when they were visiting Gumbang last year. It wasn’t exactly a dance but a slow graceful small movements of the feet, body slowly bouncing from the knees upwards with open palms and extended arms slightly bent at the elbows, receiving grace from the devas as explained by Agnes a lady we met there.

authentic, Borneo, culture, dance, dayak, Ethnic, event, Gawai Sawa, indigenous, Kuching, Malaysia, native, outdoors, Padawan, paddy harvest festival, Sarawak, thanksgiving, traditional, tribal, tribe, vilage
Basket of new rice covered in white cloth

authentic, Borneo, culture, dance, dayak, Ethnic, event, Gawai Sawa, indigenous, Kuching, Malaysia, native, outdoors, Padawan, paddy harvest festival, Sarawak, thanksgiving, traditional, tribal, tribe, vilage authentic, Borneo, culture, dance, dayak, Ethnic, event, Gawai Sawa, indigenous, Kuching, Malaysia, native, outdoors, Padawan, paddy harvest festival, Sarawak, thanksgiving, traditional, tribal, tribe, vilage authentic, Borneo, culture, dance, dayak, Ethnic, event, Gawai Sawa, indigenous, Kuching, Malaysia, native, outdoors, Padawan, paddy harvest festival, Sarawak, thanksgiving, traditional, tribal, tribe, vilageGong musicians

authentic, Borneo, culture, dance, dayak, Ethnic, event, Gawai Sawa, indigenous, Kuching, Malaysia, native, outdoors, Padawan, paddy harvest festival, Sarawak, thanksgiving, traditional, tribal, tribe, vilage
Ready for the ceremony
authentic, Borneo, culture, dance, dayak, Ethnic, event, Gawai Sawa, indigenous, Kuching, Malaysia, native, outdoors, Padawan, paddy harvest festival, Sarawak, thanksgiving, traditional, tribal, tribe, vilage
The headman, Mr.Bakas

authentic, Borneo, culture, dance, dayak, Ethnic, event, Gawai Sawa, indigenous, Kuching, Malaysia, native, outdoors, Padawan, paddy harvest festival, Sarawak, thanksgiving, traditional, tribal, tribe, vilage authentic, Borneo, culture, dance, dayak, Ethnic, event, Gawai Sawa, indigenous, Kuching, Malaysia, native, outdoors, Padawan, paddy harvest festival, Sarawak, thanksgiving, traditional, tribal, tribe, vilage authentic, Borneo, culture, dance, dayak, Ethnic, event, Gawai Sawa, indigenous, Kuching, Malaysia, native, outdoors, Padawan, paddy harvest festival, Sarawak, thanksgiving, traditional, tribal, tribe, vilageAgnes like many other villagers we met at Kiding that day claimed they have not been back to the village for ages. I wonder if the new road under construction has been a factor in drawing them back to their roots. As we were trekking up motorcycles zoomed up and and down ferrying people. Life will never be the same again…..thanks to DAP who came up with the money for its construction. The road is expected to be completed well before Christmas. Visiting Gareg & Tanju Waterfalls will be made so much easier. (For more info on Kiding village, please click here)

Resting

authentic, Borneo, culture, dance, dayak, Ethnic, event, Gawai Sawa, indigenous, Kuching, Malaysia, native, outdoors, Padawan, paddy harvest festival, Sarawak, thanksgiving, traditional, tribal, tribe, vilage
Inside headman Mr Bakas house
authentic, Borneo, culture, dance, dayak, Ethnic, event, Gawai Sawa, indigenous, Kuching, Malaysia, native, outdoors, Padawan, paddy harvest festival, Sarawak, thanksgiving, traditional, tribal, tribe, vilage
Preparing the betel nuts

Pretty

authentic, Borneo, culture, dance, dayak, Ethnic, event, Gawai Sawa, indigenous, Kuching, Malaysia, native, outdoors, Padawan, paddy harvest festival, Sarawak, thanksgiving, traditional, tribal, tribe, vilage

authentic, Borneo, culture, dance, dayak, Ethnic, event, Gawai Sawa, indigenous, Kuching, Malaysia, native, outdoors, Padawan, paddy harvest festival, Sarawak, thanksgiving, traditional, tribal, tribe, vilage
Mrs bakas & her 7 daughters

authentic, Borneo, culture, dance, dayak, Ethnic, event, Gawai Sawa, indigenous, Kuching, Malaysia, native, outdoors, Padawan, paddy harvest festival, Sarawak, thanksgiving, traditional, tribal, tribe, vilage

authentic, Borneo, culture, dance, dayak, Ethnic, event, Gawai Sawa, indigenous, Kuching, Malaysia, native, outdoors, Padawan, paddy harvest festival, Sarawak, thanksgiving, traditional, tribal, tribe, vilage
Probably the oldest dancer here who can still do poco poco
authentic, Borneo, culture, dance, dayak, Ethnic, event, Gawai Sawa, indigenous, Kuching, Malaysia, native, outdoors, Padawan, paddy harvest festival, Sarawak, thanksgiving, traditional, tribal, tribe, vilage
Modern dance – Poco Poco
authentic, Borneo, culture, dance, dayak, Ethnic, event, Gawai Sawa, indigenous, Kuching, Malaysia, native, outdoors, Padawan, paddy harvest festival, Sarawak, thanksgiving, traditional, tribal, tribe, vilage
Simon’s parents demonstrating their talents on the bamboo xylophone
authentic, Borneo, culture, dance, dayak, Ethnic, event, Gawai Sawa, indigenous, Kuching, Malaysia, native, outdoors, Padawan, paddy harvest festival, Sarawak, thanksgiving, traditional, tribal, tribe, vilage
Football competition among few villages

Road after clearing

authentic, Borneo, culture, dance, dayak, Ethnic, event, Gawai Sawa, indigenous, Kuching, Malaysia, native, outdoors, Padawan, paddy harvest festival, Sarawak, thanksgiving, traditional, tribal, tribe, vilage

authentic, Borneo, culture, dance, dayak, Ethnic, event, Gawai Sawa, indigenous, Kuching, Malaysia, native, outdoors, Padawan, paddy harvest festival, Sarawak, thanksgiving, traditional, tribal, tribe, vilage
Autumn wrong place wrong time

authentic, Borneo, culture, dance, dayak, Ethnic, event, Gawai Sawa, indigenous, Kuching, Malaysia, native, outdoors, Padawan, paddy harvest festival, Sarawak, thanksgiving, traditional, tribal, tribe, vilage

authentic, Borneo, culture, dance, dayak, Ethnic, event, Gawai Sawa, indigenous, Kuching, Malaysia, native, outdoors, Padawan, paddy harvest festival, Sarawak, thanksgiving, traditional, tribal, tribe, vilage
Kiding has a megalith too

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