Travel to Sabah, Kota Kinabalu
Pesta Ka'amatan
Since the dawn of time, the Kadazandusun and Murut people have
been celebrating an elaborate Harvest Festival, the Pesta Ka'amatan
in their own unique way to pay homage to the Bambazon, the rice spirit,
to mark their gratitude for ar bountiful harvest.
Merry-making takes place in virtually all villages and districts throughout Sabah which
host their own celebrations during the month of May.
The climax of the celebrations is the two-day state
holiday and the ensuing festivals held at annually
chosen places such as the Hongkod Koisaan in
Penampang on the 30th and 31st of May.
MAGAVAU
One of the highlights of the Pesta Ka'amatan is the Magavau Ceremony,
a traditional thanksgiving rite performed by the ritual specialists of Sabah,
the Bobohizan.
Traditional beliefs have it that Bambazon can be threatened
by pests, natural disasters, or even by the carelessness of the farmers themselves.
To restore and appease Bambazon the Magavau Ceremony has to be performed.
"Magavau" in the Kadazan language means "to recover what has been lost, by whatever means".
Lead by a senior ritual specialist, sometimes also referred to as
the "high priestess", the Bobohizan and her assistants perform the ritual
which symbolises the search for the lost and stray parts of Bambazon, and
take them safely 'home'.
Moving in a single file, close to one another, the Bobohizan and her assistants enter the spirit
world in search of Bambazon. Every time a lost
part of Bambazon is met and recovered the leader
of the ceremony shouts out in a piercing scream,
thepangkis, expressing joy at the recovery and
urging the others to keep on looking.
After paying homage to rice spirit, a merry feast ensues.
Those present are traditionally served chicken porridge, eggs and meat only,
for it is believed that green vegetables connote disrespect to the guests of Bambazon.
Only the besttapai, or rice wine, is served. The Ka'amatan Celebrations
are filled with rituals, music, songs and dances which are pure expression
of Sabah's cultural joy and merriment.
UNDUK NGADAU
Unduk Ngadau literally means the 'Noon Sun'. Legend has it that Kinoingan, the Creator, sacrificed
his only daughter Huminodun so that all his people would
have seeds to grow the food they needed.
Her head gave rise to the coconut, her flesh became padi,
her blood red rice, her fingers ginger, her teeth maize,
her knees yam, and so on. When it was time to ascend to the heavens,
Kinoingan and his wife Suminundu held a big feast as desired by
their daughter, so that the people would not forget the sacrifice.
But during the feast Kinoingan was overcome with grief for his daughter.
He played a special tune on his bamboo flute and called out her name.
Miraculously, she appeared from a big jar which was used to
hold the remains of the threshed padi. Her return to life
added much joy to the festivities. To honour the sacrifice made
by Huminodun for the people, the search for
Unduk Ngadau - or the Harvest Beauty Queen Pageant - the ideal Kadazandusun
maiden resembling Huminodun in terms of total beauty of the heart, mind and body is
the highlight of to-day's Ka'amatan Festivals!
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