GAWAI DAYAK

Gawai Open House

The word Gawai means a ritual or festival whereas Dayak is a collective name for the natives races in Sarawak; the Iban, Bidayuh, Kayan, Kenyah, Kelabit, Murut and a few more. Thus Gawai Dayak literally means the Dayak Festival.

The mode of celebrations varies from place to place. Preparation starts very early. Tuak (rice

wine) are brewed and traditional delicacies like penganan (cakes from rice flour, sugar and coconut milk) prepared. As the big day approaches, everyone will be busy with the general cleaning and preparing the food or cakes. On Gawai eve, glutinous rice are roasted in bamboo (ngelulun pulut). In the longhouse, new mats will be laid out on the ruai (an open gallery which runs through the entire length of the longhouse). The walls of most bilik (rooms) and the ruai are decorated with pua kumbu (traditional blanket).

The celebration starts on the evening of 31st May. In most Iban's longhouse, it starts with a ceremony called Muai Antu Rua (to cast away the spirit of greediness), signifying the non interference of the spirit of bad luck in the celebration. Two children or men each dragging a chapan or winnowing basket will pass each family room. Every family will throw some unwanted article into the basket. The unwanted articles will be tossed to the ground from the end of the longhouse for the spirit of bad luck.

Ceremony in Gawai

Around 6 pm, miring (offering ceremony) will take place. Before the ceremony, gendang rayah (ritual music) is performed. The feast chief thanks the gods for the good harvest, ask for guidance, blessings and long life as he sacrifices a cockerel. Dinner will then be served at the ruai. While waiting for midnight, the folks gather and mingle at the ruai and berandau
(talk/converse). Meanwhile, drinks, traditional cakes and delicacies are served.

At midnight, the gong is sounded. The tuai rumah will lead everyone to drink the Ai Pengayu (normally tuak for long life) and at the same time wishing each other "gayu-guru, gerai-nyamai" (long life, health and prosperity). A procession up and down the ruai called Ngalu Petara (Welcoming the Spirits) will follow. The celebration by now will get more merrier. Some will dance to the traditional music played. Others will sing the pantun (poems). In the town, the Dayak will gather at the community centres or restaurants for a enliven the evening.

Other activities that may follow the next day include cock-fighting, demonstration of blowpipe skills and ngajat competitions. On this day, 1st June, the homes of the Dayaks will be opened to visitors. In the longhouses, there is a practises called masu pengabang where

guests will be served with tuak by the host before they can enter the longhouse. Dayaks will attend a church mass to thanks God for the good harvest. Gawai Dayak celebration may last for several days. Visitors are most welcome to the homes of the Dayaks during the festival.

Iban Wariors

Kumang Gawai (Miss Gawai Festival)

Selamat Hari Gawai ti ka datai ngagai kita di multiply ti bisi nyambut Gawai

GAYU GURU GERAI NYAMAI LANTANG SENANG...Nguan Menua...

Sampi Gawai

Sa, dua, tiga, empat, lima, enam, tuuuuuujuh!

Enda aku busong ngelangkah gunong,
Enda aku tulah ngelangkah tanah,
Enda aku danjan ngelangkah bulan,
Enda aku tumbang ngelangkah bintang!

Kaki aku udah bediri di segi besi belumpong,
Nyawa aku nyapa nyembah di klasah tikai bedong long.
Lengan kanan aku ditanggam beringan lanchum selong,
Pala aku di-bap singkap jalong jabong,
Blakang aku ditinggang seludang baju burong.

Laban aku tu ukai mungkal ukai nanjal,
Aku tu endang niti endang nali,
Baka ijok tampung penduk,
Baka rutan tampung danan,
Baka ira tampung lemba,
Baka wi tampung tali.
Pecah periuk tanah ganti periuk tani,
Padam bulan diganti matahari,
Parai orang ka tuai ganti tubuh kami,
Pambu orang ka dulu ganti kami ka dudi.

Kami tu deka ngintu gawai dayak,
Nitih ka pekat, ngimbai adat menoa Sarawak,
Ngibun durok kitai bansa,
Negi ka menira adat ugama menoa Malaysia,
Ngambika tampak rita idup bersama di mata dunya.

O….Hoi!

Nya baru aku ngangkat ka kita ke lama udah timpat,
Tinggang urat sebangki api.
Tu baru aku nyungkang kita ke lama udah tumbang,
Tinggang batang tebelian wi.
Aku nyerungkai kita ke lama udah parai,
Keranjai indai imbok kedidi.

(Tu aku ngangau ka aki kami Sera Gunting,
Ke tau nemuai ngagai gensiring langit kuning.
Ngangau ka tuai benama Begeri,
Ke dulu ngajar kitai beguna ka atau babi,
Laban iya ba indai ka Dara Manis Muka.

Aku ngangau ka aki kami ke benama Sarapoh,
Tuai ke berani nyanda bunoh,
Ringka-ringka ngema benong benda menaga.

Aku ngangau ka Aki kami Pateh Ambau,
Ke datai ari Pangkalan Tabau,
Peling lanting tawang ulih menang bedagang.

Aku mega ngangau ka Gerasi Belang Pinggang,
Seduai Rukok ke Pematak Bala Nyerang.

Aku ngangau ka Petara Betie “Brauh Gumbang”,
Seduai Datu Patinggi Gurang.

Aku ngangau ka Petara Jalir, Petara Gisang,
Petara Geringu, Petara Sumbang.

Aku ngangau ka Petara Gerijih Ai Marang,
Seduai Bangkam ke ngaram ka sampan buong Rajang.

Aku ngangau ka Tindin Pimpin Bragah Ngindang,
Seduai Entingi Keti Aur Tulang.

Aku ngangau ka Rekaya Tom Tajai Ngindang,
Enggau tuai entanak benama Unggang.

Ngangau ka Petara Uyut benama Bedilang,
Petara Atin apai Saang,
Petara Sabok Apai Mang,
Orang Kaya Dana Bayang,
Enggau Chulo bejulok Tarang.

Orang ngasoh aku ngambi ngabang,
Ngambi mansang,
Ngambi makai,
Ngambi nandai !)

Kita ka ari ili datai sabuah barong,
Kita ari ulu undor sabuah buong.
Kita ari langit nilik naka rekong,
Kita ari tanah nyengok naka punggong.
Ngabang abis, ngabang lengis,
Betambit pintu, bekaling alu,
Bekaling lantai, bekesai tikai.

Aku ukai ngangau ngapa, ukai ngangau pia,
Aku mai kita ngabang, mai kita mansang,
Mai kita makai, mai kita nandai.
Aku mai piring, mai ading,
Piring penganan, piring penyaran,
Piring Arak, Piring Tuak,
Udah sedia, udah nyengenda,
Ditikai wi, tikai peradani,
Ditikai rutan, tikai bemban.

Kita ke ngabang bakanya mega,
Anang tuboh puang, tuboh sabatang,
Anang mai tuboh murus, tuboh untus,
Tang mai ubat serangkap genap,
Mai batu teruba nemu,
Mai pengaroh gembar tuboh.

Anang engkah ngapa, engkah pia,
Engkah ba piring, engkah ba ading.
Ayan ka ba tegalan,
Lengka ka ba pedara,
Sikap ka di ketupat.
Ngambi ka kena peda, kena tela,
Kena iching, kena perening.
Awak ka kena genggam, kena simpan,
Kena sandoh, kena taroh,
Kena japai kena pegai.

Enggau sampi tu,
Aku Minta kami chelap-embab,
Minta gayu-guru,
Gerai-nyamai,
Bidik-lansik,
Betuah-belimpah,
Kaya-raja,
Aku minta tulang,
Minta pandang,
Minta iching,
Minta perening.

Awak ka kami mudah bulih duit, bulih ringgit,
Bulih padi, bulih puli,
Bulih reta, bulih tengkira,
Bulih setawak, bulih menganak.
Ngambi ka kami jelai rita, manah nama,
Nuchong baka bukit Rabong menoa,
Tinggi baka langit nungkat neraja,
Terang baka pandang bulan purnama.

Nya alai dinga ka kangau anak mensia, kangau anak uda,
Minta tulong, minta sukong kita.

Oooooohoi !!!

dikarang aya Gregory Nyanggau Mawar