The Green Mechanics™

Showing posts with label Kadazandusun. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Faces of Celebration

[The Borneo Post news clipping]

Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman kicked start the Kaamatan in Tamparuli. He is also expected to officiate its conclusion on 31st May 2011.

I would probably be sharing mostly pictures of the opening and closing (or peak) ceremony of the month-long Harvest Festival, and not the faces of the winners of the Unduk Ngadaus as many would perhaps expect. In Sabah, one can feel the celebratory mood from 1st May to 31st May every year partly due to the various cultural and non-cultural events by both government and NGOs, and partly to the shopping carnivals organised by the big malls in the city. The general public play their part too by writing, blogging, taking part, and donating for the cause during the month.

Rain-soaked opening ceremony did not deter visitors from crowding the small town.

In between the dates, the more than 40 districts and sub-districts would hold their own festival which would normally be marked with the crowning of the Unduk Ngadau and Sugandoi champions. In the normal case the Unduk Ngadau (Harvest Festival Queen) would represent their respective district at the state level Kaamatan on 30th-31st May, traditionally held at KDCA Hongkod Koisaan in Penampang.

Citing an example of the Tuaran district level celebration, people of different cultures convene in the true spirit of solidarity, putting aside their differences in religious beliefs and political ideologies and sit back to enjoy the moment. While I can testify for the truthfulness of the high level of religious tolerance in Sabah, I can't assure myself about the latter.

But then again that is the sad truth of what is happening in Malaysia in general; leaders of different political ideology seldom sit together to work for the people. "My role is nothing else but to discredit my opposing team, from this election to the next".

Alright, let's forget about politics and let us see some pictures of people celebrating:

Red carpet for the VIPs

Ladies handing out the Linopot, a traditional Dusun staple. It's mainly rice with thick blend of yam. Other areas in the state use different blends for variety and for uniqueness.

Beating the gong and kulintangan (an array of smaller gongs) by the Lotud community.

Kids wearing the Lotud traditional costume:- the Siwot (head ornament) and the Mandapun (red cotton collar with embossed gold plate).

Find more about the Lotud Traditional Costume here.

Bajau traditional costume with jars and kitchenware.

Metal traditional accessories of the Kadazandusun.

Headhunters of Borneo?The blowpipe, locally called Sumpit is popular among the native Murut and Lundayeh, and is used as a hunting tool for live food such as birds, mouse deers, squirrels, and wild boars.

In Bajau language betitik means beating of traditional musical instruments such as kulintangan, tawak, bandil and gendang. The betitik regained its popularity following more aggressive promotion exercise by the state's cultural board since a couple of years back.

The gendang is an important component of the gong beating orchestra of the ethnic Kadazandusun in Papar.

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Creative locals produced saxophone of their own. This one is made of bamboo and if you are familiar with the modern saxophone you will be amazed by the built quality and the pitch tuning precision of this instrument.

Gentlemen from ethnic Kadazandusun in Papar, Sabah.

Handwoven beads baskets trimmed down in size suitable for decoration. The motifs here are popular among the Murut and Lundayeh communities in Sabah.

Kotobian Tadau Do Kaamatan 2011

Thursday, April 28, 2011

This Time For TAMPARULI

This year's month long Karamayan Kaamatan (Harvest Festival) will kick off in a small West Coast town of Tamparuli. For several years now the month of May has been officially declared as the State's Harvest Festival celebration month. The beating of gong to commemorate the traditional festival will be on 1st May 2011 at Dewan Tun Hamdan, Tamparuli.

Note: Unless otherwise specified, all pictures in this article were taken by the author himself.

Related opening ceremony which happened on 1st May 2009 in Papar can be viewed here.

Image credit: Sami Bangud, PKR of N11-Kiulu

Picture showing of one of the Walai (traditional dwelling house) constructed to give a brief impression of the kind of shelter our grandparents had in the olden days.

So, lets throng Tamparuli this Sunday and get to witness first hand, not just the celebration but the taste of foods you wouldn't find elsewhere, the culture and especially the warm welcome and friendship you will feel as you walk among the folks.

Let's revisit some of the images I personally captured about Tamparuli:

Bukit Ruhiang (some call it Bukit Prahu): The World Class Paragliding - Sabah Malaysian Borneo XC 2010 competition was held here in June 2010. Note the tiny size para-gliders waiting to be flagged off.

"Digital age": A man in traditional costume taking picture of the crowd during the World Class Paragliding - Sabah Malaysian Borneo at Tamparuli Tamu ground.

" Sebenrnya ramai juga saudara-mara saya di Tamparuli in..", Datuk Masidi Manjun - Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Sabah as he officiated the World Class Paragliding in Tamparuli.

"Satu kilo dua ringgit saja." Scene of Tamu traders negotiating sale of Langsat

The two bridges of Tamparuli. Remember the song Jambatan Tamparuli?

Tamparuli Tamu ground. The weekly bazaar is on Wednesday. The hill at the background is Bukit Ruhiang, the highly potential take-off spot for paragliding enthusiasts.

Sun setting behind oncoming rain, seen from Jalan Ranau, Kg. Minangkob Tamparuli.

Mount Kinabalu viewed from Pekan Nabalu, Tamparuli. If you are travelling to Ranau, Sandakan and Tawau, don't forget to spend sometime to enjoy the spectacular view of the South East Asia's tallast mountain from this location.

**Picture on page top: Unduk Ngadau 2010, Miss Crystal Eve Huminodun (middle) is flanked by 1st runner up Miss Rochelle Fayrenie (left) and 2nd runner up Miss Lydia John Alai (right)**

Monday, June 1, 2009

Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan 2009

Tell you, I was not there on the final day (31st May) of the month-long Kaamatan celebration, so, no story to tell and no pics to share. Hongkod Koisaan KDCA was so crowded all day on the 30th, and in the night there was concert and all kind of other activities.

I guess that would be it and I do not have to attend the 31st day closing ceremony which normally be just formality and capped by the crowning of the final winner of Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan.

I can, however, share with you the front page stories of all the major local dailies. And, your guess is correct, they are all about the Harvest Queen and stories related to Harvest Festival.

Here are the beautiful faces splashing the papers...

The venue where all the colourful events happened

New Sabah Times talks about Chief Minister Datuk Musa Hj Aman's open invitation to all Malaysians especially those residing in Sabah to join the national Pesta Kaamatan celebration in Kota Kinabalu on June 7. Note the top five contestants of the Unduk Ngadau.

Daily Express - says that Pesta Kaamatan is certain to be "among the best platforms to unite the people of Sabah who are made up of various ethnic groups, races, and religions."

Note the three lovely winners. UNK 2009 Ms Appey Rowenna Januin is flanked by 1st runner-up, Ms Pearl Dianne Petrus (right) and 2nd runner-up, Ms Joanne Kimberly J. Majalap (left).

The Borneo Post - focuses its front page story on the winning Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan.

The Top Five as shown by The New Sabah Times are:

1) Appey Rowenna Januin - representing Papar
2) Pearl Dianne Petrus - representing DBKK (Kota Kinabalu)
3) Joanne Kimberly J Majalap - representing Penampang
4) Flina Rutum - representing Tamparuli
5) Jacqueline Joseph - representing Keningau

Congratulations Girls! and Kotobian Tadau Tagazo Do Kaamatan!

Sodop Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan 2009

Date: 28th May 2009 (Unduk Ngadau Gala Nite)

Venue: Hongkod Koisaan KDCA, Penampang

Time: 6.30pm - 11.00pm

The dinner was held at the main venue of this year's Kaamatan Festival as part the bigger event to be held on 30th and 31st later this month. The objective is to help fund the Unduk Ngadau and the proceed from ticket sales to be donated to Sabah Thalassemia Society.

This is not mineral water. It's Lihing, a traditional Kadazandusun alcoholic drink (equivalent to Tuak in Sarawak), given as welcome drink to the paying diners. I tried a couple of sip.

Appetizer was okay, except that the crab meat stick was not fresh. The rest were 'okay' but weren't that great too. Think that's how they were supposed to be.