June is the month where the Sarawakian would celebrate the harvest season or better known as the ‘Hari Gawai Dayak’. In line to this, 1st and 2nd June have been declared as public holidays by the state government and it has been an annual festival holidays for the Sarawakians.

The climax of the festival would be the ‘Ngiling Tikai’ ceremony, to mark the end of the festival. And today, our university recreational club has organized the event to highlight the diverse culture that exists in Sarawak.

Usually in a ‘Ngiling Tikai’ ceremony, back then in the longhouse, a ‘ranyai tree’ would be placed in the centre of the longhouse ruai and the villagers would require to perform a ‘ngajat’ dance and allowed to cut those goodies hanged on the tree. In this case, the ‘ranyai tree’ was placed at the centre of our lecture theather foyer.
Boiled eggs and ketupat were hanged on this ‘ranyai tree’ ;p

In the older days, a ritual would be performed by the head of the village however, in today’s ceremony; the Pro Vice Chancellor was given the honor the mark the ending in a simple symbolic ceremony guided by local staff.

Close up of the offerings.. ;)

Sago leave, Tobacco, Bettlenuts, Daun sirih

Rice popcorn, daun sirih & boiled eggs

Soon after the ritual ceremony ends, the staffs just couldn’t resist trying the traditional foods served at the lecture theater foyer.

So, for food lovers out there, you may only swallow your saliva upon seeing the pictures shown below; ;p

Traditional foods…nyum nyum nyummmyyy ;)

Sayur daun ubi - Tapioca

Ayam Pansoh - Bamboo Chicken

Lemang - Glutinous rice cooked in bamboo

Kikit - Porridge with wild mushroom

Nuba Laya - Wrapped Mashed Rice

Midin - Wild Fern

Traditional snacks… ;)

Kuih Chap

Sarang Semut & Kuih Bangkit

Lastly, the ’silent killer’ drink - Tuak!!! ;)

Local Rice Wine