GAWAI DAYAK

Sarawak's Dayak Festival celebrates the beginning of the rice harvest. This was banned by the British government, which did not want a holiday celebrated by only some of the people of Sarawak. The holiday was included in Sarawak's public holiday calendar in 1965 and although it only concerns the Dayak community, the day is not celebrated by all Sarawak residents. Community members give thanks to the rice god for the precious harvest and obtain his favours for the following year's harvest.