Gawai Festival in Brunei Darussalam

About Gawai Festival Day in Brunei Darussalam, which falls on the 1st of June every year, is a day for all Ibans races in Brunei Darussalam to celebrate the end of the harvest season. It is a tradition whereby Ibans will go back to their own village or “kampong” in Brunei Darussalam and celebrate Gawai Day together with their families.

The celebration starts on the evening of 31 May. In most Iban longhouses, it starts with a ceremony called
Muai Antu Rua (to cast away the spirit of greed), signifying the non-interference of the spirit of bad luck in the celebration. Two children or men each dragging a chapan (winnowing basket) will pass each family's room. Every family will throw some unwanted article into the basket. The unwanted articles will be tossed to the ground from the end of the longhouse for the spirit of bad luck.

Gawai Festival Dayak celebration may last for several days. Visitors/Guests are most welcome to the homes of the Dayak during the festival.

Yesterday the residents of Rumah panjang Bang Taong celebrated their open house Gawai day. Guest of Honour for this event was Pehin Orang Kaya Hamzah Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Haji Abdullah, Minister of Development.

A Happy Chief Long House, Jawa anak Gelayan

Interior of one of the house at the Bang Taong Long House

 Guest of Honour for this event was Pehin Orang Kaya Hamzah Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Haji Abdullah, Minister of Development.

source :

http://hsrmalek.blogspot.com/2008/06/gawai-celebration-in-mukim-sukang.html