By DayakDily Team
LUBOK ANTU, June 3: Gawai Dayak at the 52-door Sebangki Panjai longhouse this year began not with raucous revelry, but with something far more meaningful: a heartfelt family reunion dinner on the ruai — the communal veranda that stretches the length of the longhouse — where food was shared, laughter echoed, and bonds rekindled.
According to a media release issued today, residents decided to mark this year’s harvest festival with a return to tradition and togetherness, placing family at the heart of their celebrations.
The longhouse’s Gawai committee, made up of members of the Iban community, opted to forgo the usual packed schedule of games and competitions in favour of creating space for reconnection.
“Strengthening family ties should be the order of the day in one of our most important festivals,” explained resident and retired educator Thomas Sumbang Jilom, affectionately known as Cikgu Thomas.
Since 2022, the Gawai itinerary had leaned heavily on fun and games, often leaving families too busy preparing for contests like the kumang beauty pageant, karaoke battles, or the quirky engkeratong (most ugly) competition to sit and catch up with returning relatives.
“Some families even skipped dinner just to prepare for competitions. We felt it was time to change that,” said Thomas.
This year, the committee introduced a back-to-basics approach — each family laid out a buffet-style meal outside their bilek (family unit), and everyone dined together on rattan mats spread out along the ruai on the eve of the festival (May 31).
It was a visual throwback to the Gawai celebrations of old and a touching reminder of what truly matters — kinship and community.
“It was a heartwarming sight to see. Families sitting together, sharing food, exchanging stories, and catching up after long separations — that’s the spirit of Gawai,” Thomas said.
As tradition demands, some ceremonial customs were preserved. Near midnight, a thanksgiving prayer was offered, followed by a Gawai message from Tuai Rumah Eddy, the longhouse chief.
At the stroke of midnight, residents raised their glasses for the “ai pengayu” toast — literally translated as “water of life” — believed to bring blessings, longevity, and spiritual protection to those who partake in it.
After the solemnity, celebrations continued late into the night with the usual cheer and festivity.
While many popular contests — including adult karaoke, kumang, keling, and beer-drinking competitions — were removed to make way for more family time, the joy was not entirely lost.
A kids’ karaoke session and a tribute to senior citizens remained on the programme, carefully spaced out to allow for long conversations and quality moments between loved ones.
At Sebangki Panjai this Gawai, the loudest cheer was not from a contest victory, but from laughter shared over home-cooked meals and the warmth of togetherness that echoed down the ruai. — DayakDaily
