By DayakDaily Team
MIRI, June 10: The 2025 State-Level Gawai Dayak Celebration in Sarawak will continue with the Traditional Gawai Carnival from June 12 to 13 at the Federation of Orang Ulu Associations Malaysia (FORUM) Cultural Centre here, spotlighting the Orang Ulu community as this year’s host.
In a TVS news report, Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Labour, Immigration, and Project Monitoring), Datuk Gerawat Gala, said the carnival is one of four anchor events in this year’s Gawai Dayak programme, marking the Orang Ulu’s turn to lead the annual celebration.
“The Gawai Dayak celebration is rotated among the Iban, Bidayuh, and Orang Ulu communities. This year, the Orang Ulu are honoured to take the lead,” he said at a press conference held at the FORUM building on Monday (June 9).
The event is organised in collaboration with 10 Dayak associations under FORUM, including the Dayak Association of Miri and the Miri branch of the Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA).
Gerawat noted that the first anchor event, the Gawai Bazaar, was successfully held at MJC Batu Kawa in Kuching from May 15 to 25.
The third key event, the Gawai Dayak Cultural Parade, will take place on June 21 at the Kuching Waterfront, featuring 92 contingents and special participation from the Dayak community in Kalimantan.
He also announced that all major Gawai Dayak 2025 events will be documented in a special commemorative book as part of efforts to preserve Sarawak’s cultural heritage.
“The ultimate goal of Gawai Dayak is to foster unity among the people of Sarawak through cultural diversity. Despite our differences in ethnicity and traditions, we remain united—that is our strength,” he added.
The grand finale of the celebration will be the Gawai Dinner on June 22 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK). — DayakDaily
