AMANG ALUI: THE GENIUS BIDAYUH: Gawai: The past and present.

I still remember how we used to celebrate Gawai in the 1970s. Relatives from other villages would come, stayed with us to celebrate the festival for a few days. I could only recall the 70s because my memory starts somewhere there. My grandfather and my father told me that Gawai was not celebrated as how it is today, it was celebrated with traditional activities. In those days ( I don't know when), there was no such thing as open house or visiting from house to house. This is because basically there was only ONE VERY LONG HOUSE. Visitors were relatives from the surrounding villages. In those days, Gawai was not celebrated on June 1 but it was decided by the villages themselves. After thorough discussion among the villagers and "discussion" with the spirits, the days were fixed. Therefore, Gawai was celebrated and shared with other villages. Usually it was after harvesting season.

Gawai was a "night event". I say so because the merry making only occured during the night, all night long. During the day? Well everyone was asleep, till the evening. The activities would be repeated the following nights. Food and drinks were served at the verandah of the longhouse, so, there was no need for individual house visits; no open house.

What were the "merry making" activities? Along the longhouse verandah, there would be more than one set of gong. At the interval of maybe 10 doors there would be another set. The main event of course was the "Belanggi". As far as I could remember, the elderlies really enjoyed this. They would comment the moves, who were more graceful. To me all the moves were similar, I couldn't detect any difference, who could do better than the other. There would also be the "birayun". This is a song, very melodious. It contains "pantun"; praising while asking questions. The men vs. the women. The losers were those who could not produce accurate impromptu response. The ability to rhyme the words in lines is another challenge in "birayun". The other party would laugh and mock the opponent if they failed to fulfill the criteria. Besides that of course the Bidayuh also borrowed the Sarawak Malay's "nopeng". In those days they didn't use cd to dance or 'joget' but "gendang". Again someone who were good in pantun would sing and the rest would get up and dance. The Malay "silat" and the Bidayuh "kuntau" would also be presented. Some were genuinely good but others were merely doing it for fun. Laughter was the main motive. So, merry making involved all levels of ages in the long house.

Drinks? There would be no laughter if the celebrants were 'normal' (not intoxicated). Well, "tuak" (fermented rice wine) was the main drink. The folks would comment on the taste and 'kick' of the tuak served. As we know some tuak are sweet some are sour and some are just nice. It all depends on how they are prepared. According to those who used to prepare it, they have to observe certain rules and regulations (pantang) while preparing the "tuak". There were no carbontaed drinks, syrup or even wine. It was only "tuak" and "kopi o".

Things started to change gradually. With many longhouses being demolished to give way to a more well-planned villages, the celebration also changed. Activities are getting more individualistic. Each family no longer celebrate Gawai together with relatives from other villages because the time is set on June 1 and maybe goes on to the most is 3 days. The night activities are more concentrated in the community halls, with different events; beauty contest, stage performances (singing and dancing) and open dance floor with live bands or cds. Since it is not a spiritual and ritual festival, the respect for Gawai is also diminishing. It is only a festival for enjoyment.

With roads connecting villages, relatives no longer spend the night with other relatives. Gawai is slowly transforming into a 'day event', similar to Hari Raya, Chinese New Year and other festivals. The main activity is open house and visiting.

The rituals are done but they are just acting. The "sadih" (altar for offerings to the spirits) are set up merely for decoration. Blessing for a better harvest is done by Christian priests and not by Pagan priests. In villages with longhouses, some still try to mantain the practice of "belanggi" but the "birayun", "nopeng" and "kuntau" were all gone. Most of the nights are mostly used for dancing. Modern means of entertainment are adopted; lucky draw, beauty contest and karaoke. Gawai no longer involved all. Those who are too shy to dance and sing will be merely spectators. For the youngsters, it is a 'drink till you drop' event. For those with hypertension will slowly 'disappear' into their houses and enjoy tv.

Gawai has indeed transform according to time. Is this 'modernisation' of Gawai good for the community, culture and identity of the Bidayuh? Should we transform according to time for survivor? Well, everything evolves and transforms according to time, that is why we have terms such as 'history', 'memory', 'antique' etc. Nothing lasts forever. To know the past, we have to research and study history and anthropology. "Bidapud lagi".