** Dates are subject to change

WORLD HARVEST FESTIVAL

The Gawai festival has always been one of the celebrated festivals in Sarawak. Its origins goes back to the folklore that tells of the adventure of men travelling to the world of the gods and spirits with an invitation to join in a feast, then of their subsequent journey to the world of mortals. It is generally believed that Gawai is being held when one is persuaded by the gods to do so in his dream. After performing this Gawai ceremony, one's life and the lives of all those who have been touched by the celebration will be blessed - so it is believed!

That is the origin of Gawai from a mystical point of view. But on a more down-to-earth way of seeing it, Gawai festival is the celebration of the end of harvesting season and the start of a new farming season. Today, throughout Sarawak, the Dayak community celebrate Gawai in their villages and urban homes with open invitation, sharing the finest of their hospitality with the other communities.

Sarawak Cultural Village (SCV) will play host to the World Harvest Festival (WHF) 2010 on May 29 and 30, held to steer and commemorate the unique Gawai or Harvest Festival, celebrated by most of the ethnic community of Sarawak.

Previously known as the Gawai Tourism Night, this year will be the 6th year SCV organize this auspicious event. Strongly support from the Ministry of Tourism & Heritage Sarawak (formerly known as Ministry of Urban Development & Tourism Sarawak) aiming to position itself as an international event on its Tourism Calendar.

This year’s 2 day 1 night festival will focus on the Orang Ulu community, where the staging of a live theatre of an Orang Ulu legendary titled “Batang Arong & The Sky Goddess: When Love Meet Magic”. The uniqueness that WHF theme play have are the fact that the stage will be the whole Village itself, and this entire play will envelope the guests in audio and visual rapture. Later that night, guests can treat themselves with local gastronomy and drinks, namely “tuak” at three ethnic houses, Bidayuh, Iban and Orang Ulu longhouses for the “ngabang” or house visit session.

As another highlight of the night, an ethnic beauty pageant will also be held as a sign of recognition to beautiful and intellectual women. With the gracious sponsorship from Unilever who has the Fair & Lovely whitening facial cream under its wing, the organizers are looking for a maiden who possess grace, pose and charm, articulate with a good knowledge of Sarawak's beautiful culture and heritage. She must be, in short, a woman of substance.

We shall also be celebrating the Harvest Festival with invited cultural troupes. A series of joint workshops and international concerts and invited cultural troupes will be held during the 2 days 1 night festival, where visitors can have the opportunity to share and learn about each community and traditions, foods and handicrafts.

To further enhance this year’s festival, we have included another highlight to the festival which is the Ironman WHF 2010 competition, as the 15 finalists will exhibit superhuman strength in tackling traditional based activities such as blowpipes shooting, coconut dehusking, lifting gunny rice weighing 50kg and a lot of other obstacles.

RAINFOREST WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL

The Rainforest World Music Festival is a unique festival that brings together on the same stage renowned world musicians from all continents and indigenous musicians from the interiors of the mythical island of Borneo.

The 3 days festival is held at the Sarawak Cultural Village, a living museum where the traditional habitats of Sarawak's major ethnic groups have been lovingly reproduced. Set amid lush rainforest greenery at the foothills of jungle clad Mount Santubong, and a stone's throw away from the beach resorts of the Santubong peninsula, the village provides the ideal venue for this festival that celebrates nature, ethnic music and the indigenous cultures of the world.

For more information, visit the RWMF Website! www.rainforestmusic-borneo.com