BINTULU: The Dayak community has been urged to continue championing its cultural heritage to ensure it does not become a mere symbol of the past.
Organising chairman of the 2025 Bintulu Division Pre-Gawai Dayak Celebration, Thomas Nyaring Mawan, said by doing so it will remain relevant in the rapidly evolving modern world.
He cautioned that amid the tide of progress, the greatest challenge lies in ensuring cultural identity is not eroded.
“We must not be passive observers of tradition. We must be its champions.
“Let us not allow our identity to be swept away by the currents of modernity,” he said at the celebration here on Saturday evening.
“We gather not merely to honour traditions but to celebrate the soul and legacy of our heritage.
“Gawai is not just a festival; it is a symbol of gratitude, a renewal of spirit, and a reminder of our roots,” he said.
He explained that the theme ‘Segulai Sejalai’ (Together in Unity) was chosen to reflect the enduring value of solidarity, which has long been the cornerstone of Dayak culture.
“This phrase may be simple, yet it carries profound meaning.
“It embodies the hope that the Dayak community will continue to move forward together through joy and hardship, hope and struggle.
“It is not merely a slogan but a way of life,” he asserted.
He added that the unity demonstrated through the organisation and participation in Gawai celebrations proves that solidarity remains strong and vibrant among the Dayak people.
“We have shown that unity is not mere rhetoric but a practice we uphold and cherish. When we stand united, there are no limits to what we can achieve,” he added.
Thomas urged the community to embody the spirit of Gawai in daily life through mutual respect, cooperation, and support for one another.
“Let Gawai not only be an annual memory but a movement and a call to walk side by side, building a shared future as one people, one heart, and one hope,” he said.
The event was enlivened by various Dayak cultural and artistic performances, the Kumang Gawai competition, and performances by an Iban singer, Linda Simai.
