KUCHING: The Jagoi-Bratak Bidayuh of Bau and Lundu Districts will once again commemorate Bung Bratak Day on May 1, a significant cultural and historical festival.
The festival, which has been cancelled three times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is anticipated to be grander than ever.
In the light of this, Bung Bratak Heritage Association (BBHA) chairman Datuk Peter Minos revealed the event would be held at the Bidayuh hilltop ancient settlement, the Bung Bratak Heritage Centre (BBHC).
“The festival will showcase Bidayuh cultures, customs and traditions with traditional music, dances, arts and crafts, as well as local food and drinks.
“There will also be traditional games and a hill-run competition called “bratakthon” which will be opened to all attendees,” he said in a statement yesterday.
He added that well-known personalities, such as Pandelela Rinong, Malaysia’s diving queen and Dewi Seriesta, a beauty queen and model would be invited to attend the festival.
Minos pointed out that Bung Bratak Day has historically attracted thousands of visitors and tourists, both local and foreign, and this year’s event is expected to be no different.
“The festival is not just a day of celebration but also aims to foster greater unity, solidarity, goodwill and understanding among the people.
“Bung Bratak Day is more than just a day of Bidayuh festival, fun, and joy; it is also intended to bring about greater unity and solidarity among the people, as well as goodwill and understanding,” he added.
Bung Bratak Day, which honours Bidayuh culture and tradition while also encouraging greater social cohesiveness and cross-cultural interchange, looks to be an exciting and significant occasion holistically.
