• A holiday for the Land of the Hornbill
  • Sim Kwang Yang
  • 1243655156
  • Although the national soul will hardly stir a single hair, the Dayak community throughout the vast and difficult terrain of Sarawak are now caught in the grip of excited anticipation for their grandest festival.

    Yes, they will be celebrating their Gawai Dayak on Monday, June 1. Already, the entire Land of the Hornbill is grinding to a halt for this public holiday.

    gawai dawak 020607 chickenAs I write, I can almost hear the rice wine brewing happily in the earthen vats or plastic drums.

    The best ‘tuak’ will be offered to the gods on the first day of the Gawai itself. Many taboos surround the long process of producing the ‘tuak’, which is almost always undertaken by the women folk.

    Before handling the ‘tuak’ which is still under fermentation, the women must never touch or eat anything sour like ‘asam’ or lime, or else the ‘tuak’ will turn into vinegar. Women who happen to suffer from their monthly curse must not be near the ‘tuak’.

    The containers in which the ‘tuak’ is kept must be properly covered and kept in a secure room. There are spirits around that are always ready to taste it before it is ready, and thus turning it sour.
    • The seeds of Dayak nationalism
    • Many compelled to leave the state