KUCHING: Kampung Simpok’s annual River Festival and Rami Gawai will return this year with a vibrant lineup of cultural, traditional and community-based activities.
Event manager, Robert John Jinggut, said the twin celebrations in Kampung Simpok would be held on separate dates, with the River Festival scheduled for May 30 and the Rami Gawai on June 3.
He said the River Festival would take place at the Waterfront or Rabak Butan area and along parts of the Serin River, promising a lively atmosphere for villagers and visitors alike.
Among the activities planned for the River Festival are bamboo rod contests, decorated raft parades, live performances on bamboo rafts, children’s telematches, blindfolded duck-catching games, “teretap” or bamboo plank-making competitions and sago leaf roof-weaving contests.
The evening programme will feature the ‘Sumbuk Sangon’ or grandmother beauty pageant, the ‘Babai Pogan’ or brave grandfather competition and a lucky draw session.
Sales stalls and exhibition booths will operate throughout the day.
Robert said the River Festival has become an important pre-Gawai social event for the community since it was first introduced in 2017 by the Kampung Simpok Kandis Zone.
“The River Festival is usually held one week before the Gawai celebration and serves as a platform to strengthen ties among villagers while preserving traditional activities,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Rami Gawai celebration on June 3 will begin with a fishing competition in the morning.
The evening programme will include the ‘Nakya Sangon’ or little girls beauty pageant, the ‘Nakya Pogan’ or brave boys competition, a lucky draw and the closing ceremony featuring the symbolic mat-rolling ritual and the handing over of the ‘kasah’ to the next zone organiser.
Robert said the event aims to enliven the Gawai festive atmosphere among residents and visitors while encouraging social interaction among villagers, especially those returning from outside the area to celebrate with their families.
He added that the festival also provides economic opportunities for local residents through sales stalls and small businesses while helping promote the event as a tourism attraction at council and state levels.
“The festival also highlights traditional production activities and cultural heritage so that younger generations and visitors can appreciate them,” he said.
Participation is open not only to residents of Kampung Simpok but also to neighbouring Bisapug communities such as Kampung Mundai, Kampung Sarig, Kampung Pesa and Kampung Plaman Sidaun.
About 300 participants are expected to take part in the activities, with organisers anticipating strong attendance from local and out-of-district visitors.
