Celebrating Kaamatan and Gawai: East Malaysia’s Harvest Heartbeat 🌾

As May turns to June, the spirit of celebration sweeps through East Malaysia in the form of two deeply rooted cultural festivals. Kaamatan in Sabah and Gawai in Sarawak are more than just public holidays. They are vibrant expressions of gratitude, heritage, and community.

🌺 Kaamatan (Sabah, 30 and 31 May)

Known as the Harvest Festival of the Kadazandusun and Murut people, Kaamatan honours Bambarayon, the spirit of rice. It is a time to give thanks after the harvest and to come together through traditional music, dance, and food.

🎉 Highlights include:

• Unduk Ngadau, a respected beauty pageant inspired by legend

• Sumazau dance, blowpipe competitions, and traditional games

• Feasting and sharing, with open houses, rice wine called lihing, and iconic Sabahan dishes

  
  

🌾 Gawai Dayak (Sarawak, 1 and 2 June)

Gawai is celebrated by the Iban, Bidayuh, and other Dayak communities. It is a thanksgiving festival marking a successful harvest and the beginning of a new farming season.

🎊 Traditions include:

• Ngajat dance, ceremonial attire, and gong music

• Offerings to ancestors and blessings for the year ahead

• Sharing tuak, a traditional rice wine, as families host ngabang or open house visits

  
  

At Malaysian Link, we celebrate these cultural moments that reflect the heart of East Malaysia. While Kaamatan and Gawai have their own unique customs and roots, both are powerful reminders of the joy of coming together, expressing gratitude, and keeping traditions alive.

Whether you are joining the festivities in Sabah and Sarawak or simply learning from afar, Selamat Hari Kaamatan and Selamat Hari Gawai!