FOR university students from across Sarawak, Gawai Dayak is a special time to reconnect with family and embrace the rich cultural traditions that come alive during the festive season.
Celebrated on June 1-2 annually, they view it as a celebration of family, heritage, unity, and shared identity.
Take, for instance, Franssecca Naie Josehua Undi, 20, a Diploma in Food Technology student at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Sarawak.
The holiday period is all about heading out to her beloved Kampung Logan in Marudi.
“For this Gawai holidays, I plan to return to my lovely village.
“We usually start our celebration by cleaning the longhouse and making decorations for our stage,” she said ahead of the celebration.
“Traditional dishes like pansoh manok and tuak are prepared in anticipation of the festive day,” she added.
She looks forward to reunite with her family and celebrate the harvest festival together.
“Gawai is the only time of the year when almost everyone from the city goes back to their hometown,” she said.
“So I feel very happy because it is the time when our family members gather and share our stories.”
Not only that, Franssecca, who has celebrated Gawai every year since young, also treasures the opportunity to experience traditional dance and music.
Likewise, Nia Sharon Ngumbang, 22, a Business Technology Management student at UiTM Sarawak, also looked forward to head back to Kampung Logan Tassan, Marudi.
“It’s a valuable time for me to reconnect with my loved ones and take part in traditional customs that hold deep cultural meaning,” she added.
For Nia, the exciting part of Gawai that she looks forward to is the miring ritual led by her grandfather.
“This ritual is very important in our culture as it expresses gratitude and seeks blessings,” she said.
Nia also finds joy in competitions like traditional fashion shows and also the ngajat dance.
“These events not only preserve our culture but also strengthen community bonds,” she said.
Twenty-four-old Brandon Vensent, a Development Planning and Management student from Miri, who is studying at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), says Gawai is about togetherness.
“Usually, I spend the Gawai holidays with the family,” he said.
For Brandon, returning home means meeting and greeting relatives he has not seen during his time away.
“It’s a time for social bonding between our family members and also among the rumah panjai (longhouse),” he said.
Brandon also believes that Gawai is important to the Iban community as it marks the end of the harvest season.
“Because of that reason, we are returning to our hometown and celebrating with our families together,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mathius Roysten, a final-year Software Engineering student from Limbang studying at UNIMAS, does not traditionally celebrate Gawai, but still finds this time of year special for him.
“I’m planning to take a break from my final year project and assignments and head to Miri for a family vacation,” said the 23-year-old.
Even though Gawai is not part of his heritage, he appreciates the festive vibe.
“I like taking pictures, whether it’s of the decorations or me in front of them, for keepsake,” he added.
He once joined a friend’s Gawai celebration and was fascinated by the festive atmosphere and traditional food.
“It was great to see signature traditional food like manok pansuh and homemade tuak; it made me more curious to experience it fully,” he said.
Fellenthia Ivynna Seredim, 22, a Development Planning and Management student from Julau studying at UNIMAS, was also looking forward to the festivities.
“I plan to spend a lot of time with people I love, which is family, and usually we will ngabang (visit our relatives),” she said.
She was also eagerly anticipating cultural activities such as playing traditional instruments and perform the ngajat.
“I’m looking forward to any activities that relate to our culture,” she said.
When it comes to her favourite Gawai moments, it’s the moment of sipping rice wine just before midnight as a symbolic gesture of long life.
For Felllenthia, the Gawai celebration is important because for her, returning home is very meaningful for her.
“It is because all the family members gather and celebrate Gawai together, which happens once a year,” she said.
