Pekit Kumang Gawai Tatau 2025 returns June 14
BINTULU (May 29): The vibrant Gawai Dayak spirit will shine once again at the much-anticipated Pekit Kumang Gawai Tatau 2025, set for June 14 at Dinner World Restaurant here.
This cultural pageant, aimed at preserving and promoting Iban traditions, invites Sarawakian women of Dayak descent from Kakus constituency to compete in beauty, intelligence, and cultural knowledge, while adorned in traditional Iban attire.
The 'Kumang' winner will receive RM3,000, a crown, sash, trophy, finger flower, and certificate.
The 'Lulong' (second winner) and the 'Selinggar Matahari' (third winner) will take home RM2,500 and RM2,000, respectively, along with a crown, sash, trophy, finger flower, and certificate each.
Meanwhile, consolation prizes of RM500 and a certificate will be given to other finalists.
Registration is open until June 10 via QR code.
A rehearsal will be held at 10am on June 15, with the final event at 6pm on the same day.
Eligible participants must be Dayak women aged 18 to 30, single, fluent in Iban, and first-time Kumang participants. Traditional Iban attire is mandatory, and all expenses are self-funded.
A preliminary round will be held on June 12 if entries exceed 10.
For inquiries, interested participants can contact Tuai Rumah Esther Ansai on 012-8085898 or Tuai Rumah Gilbert Ngadi Melaka on 019-8577799. beauty pageant lead Pekit Kumang Gawai Tatau
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Borneo Post
4 days ago
- Borneo Post
Viviana Lin receives emotional welcome in Kuching, vows to honour Iban heritage at Miss Grand International
Viviana (second right) moved to tears upon seeing her supporters welcoming her arrival at KIA. Also seen is Melisha (third right). — Photo by Roystein Emmor KUCHING (Aug 3): Miss Grand Malaysia (MGM) 2025 Viviana Lin Winston was moved to tears upon receiving a heartfelt welcome from supporters at Kuching International Airport (KIA) this afternoon. The 25-year-old beauty queen, who made history as the first Sarawakian and Iban woman to win the national title, said she is determined to proudly showcase her heritage on the global stage at Miss Grand International (MGI) 2025 in Bangkok this October. 'First of all, I'm so happy to be here. As the first Sarawakian and Iban lady to win this title, I will do my very best,' she told reporters during a press conference at the airport. 'This is a dream come true, and I truly want to represent my culture at the international level so that people around the world can see what I have to offer.' When asked to respond to criticism from some netizens regarding the design of her evening gown at the national competition, which was said to be too revealing and unrepresentative of Malaysian culture, Viviana clarified that her outfit was actually inspired by the traditional attire of Iban warriors. 'For the national-level competition, the design I wore was inspired by the Iban warrior. It featured a 'sirat' element, which reflects our culture,' she explained, adding that the final design for her MGI 2025 evening gown will be revealed in due course. 'I'll be working with my team to decide on the next gown. So stay tuned, I'll be revealing it soon,' she added. Viviana also shared that she would be budgeting the RM15,000 prize money to prepare for the international pageant over the next two months, and aims to use her platform to champion MGI's core advocacy theme, 'Stop the War and Violence.' On the recent controversy involving another contestant who announced her withdrawal from the Malaysian pageant scene over claims of bias in Viviana's win, MGM National Director Melisha Lin said the individual's actions did not reflect the organisation's values. 'She does not represent what we stand for, nor the work we've done to prepare for the international stage. I have already spoken to our licensor, and we are currently exploring legal options,' she said. Melisha, who is also a former MGM titleholder herself, called on the public to continue supporting Viviana as she gears up for the international competition. Also present to show his support at the press conference was Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, Datuk Snowdan Lawan. beauty pageant Iban lead Miss Grand Malaysia Viviana Lin Winston
The Star
5 days ago
- The Star
Authenticity, passion drive dancers through every step
SYAHIDAH Hazmi, 25, from Selangor, has been with the Artis Budaya Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur cultural troupe for nearly five years. Over time, she has learned most of the traditional dances from across Malaysia, but says capturing their grace was still a work in progress. 'You can try to emulate the movements, but conveying the feeling is not easy. We just do our best,' she said. Syahidah and Amirul striking a pose in full Dayak traditional attire, complete with elaborate headgear and accessories used in Sarawakian dance performances. Syahidah said it was not enough to just memorise the dance steps. 'As dancers, we need to understand the story and meaning behind each routine. 'You can't simply mix and match, it must be authentic.' Fellow dancer Amirul Fahmi Zulkifli, 33, finds that the most important thing is to respect the dance and the costume. 'When we perform traditional dances from Sarawak or Sabah, even if we don't get everything perfect, we always make sure the costume is spot on. 'It has to be the correct outfit with the proper accessories,' he said. Ninie Marlina and Iznur Aireel dressed in Bajau traditional costume. Recounting a performance at Dataran Merdeka in full traditional Sarawak gear, Amirul said Sarawakians approached him after the show and quizzed him about his attire. 'They knew what it was, but they wanted to know if we got every detail right,' he said, referring specifically to the intricate headgear. 'The feathers on the headgear are from burung kuang (Great Argus pheasant). Those long, patterned tail feathers are crucial, especially in Dayak dances. 'The headgear is elaborate but meaningful. It's a big part of their culture, and we make sure to honour that,' he said. Siti Aishah Mustapa Kamal, 25 and Nor Muhammad Hijjahie Nor Hafizi, 21, dancers from Kuala Lumpur City Hall's cultural troupe rehearse in full Indian costume, presenting classical movements that celebrate Malaysia's Indian heritage through dance and dress. When asked which costume was his favourite, Amirul replied, 'Definitely the Dayak one, it's the least hot!' The Dayak men's traditional attire consists of a bark or cloth vest, and pants made from animal skin. Syahidah and Amirul find classical Indian dance, particularly bharatanatyam, most challenging. 'I especially love traditional Malay dances like joget gamelan. It's elegant and expressive,' said Syahidah. For 32-year-old Kesavaen Krishnamoorthy, Chinese dance is the most challenging, while his favourite is Bollywood dance as he finds it the most fun. Ninie Marlina Ahmaden, 31, described dancing with ABDBKL as a dream come true, as she can travel regularly, something that would not be possible if she was working elsewhere. Iznur Aireel Fauzi, 19, the youngest of the troupe, hopes to travel abroad for performances in the future. 'I am new and still learning, so I haven't been assigned an overseas performance yet, but I'm hoping one day I'll get the opportunity,' said Iznur. DBKL dancers, Haslinda Abdul Halim, 36, and Adam Khaiqal, 31, from Selangor, all striking a pose in full Chinese costume. 'I enjoy dancing, and it brings me so much joy. I am proud to represent Malaysia every time I perform,' said Natasha Idris Silva, 41, who has performed across the globe. 'It is a wonderful feeling to be appreciated for our differences,' Natasha added. Haslinda Abdul Halim, 36, from Ipoh, concurred, saying, 'We experience that a lot when performing abroad.' 'The support we receive overseas really boosts our morale, especially when we are far from home,' said Adam Khaiqal, 31, from Selangor.
Borneo Post
7 days ago
- Borneo Post
Viviana first Iban to win Miss Grand Malaysia, to represent country in Bangkok
Viviana (centre) is seen with other Miss Grand Malaysia 2025 finalists in Kuala Lumpur on July 30, 2025. — Bernama photo KUALA LUMPUR (July 31): Viviana Lin Winston, from Kuching was crowned Miss Grand Malaysia (MGM) 2025 during the grand finale of the beauty pageant held last night at the HGH Convention Centre here. The 25-year-old captivated the panel of judges with her grace and intellect, earning her the title along with a cash prize, jewellery and various exclusive packages. With this victory, the Iban lass will go on to represent Malaysia at the Miss Grand International (MGI) pageant, which is expected to be held in Bangkok in October. The first runner-up was Dr Nisha Thayananthan from Negeri Sembilan, while third place went to Rochil Sagarino from Sabah. Viviana, fondly known as Vivi, is the first Iban woman to win the Miss Grand Malaysia crown. 'This achievement is not just a personal victory on a beauty pageant stage, but a chance to celebrate diversity and prove that the uniqueness of Iban culture also deserves a place on the global stage. 'I hope this success inspires young people from all backgrounds to believe in themselves and keep striving,' said the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak student. Viviana added that this win also comes with a great responsibility, especially in representing Malaysia at the MGI stage and continuing the legacy of past Malaysian representatives who ranked among the world's best. 'From now on, I want to focus on working with experienced individuals so I can elevate Malaysia's name even further. Winning (on the global stage) is not impossible with consistent training, proper guidance and teamwork,' she said. Meanwhile, MGM 2025 national director Melisha Lin said Viviana's win was the result of her hard work and strengths in all five core areas assessed at the international level, namely 'beauty, body, brain, behaviour, and business'. She said the organisation hopes that Viviana will be placed among the Top 20 at this year's Miss Grand International, adding that Malaysia secured sixth place (fifth runner-up) in the previous edition. — Bernama lead Miss Grand Malaysia Viviana Lin Winston
