Latest news with #harvestfestival
The National
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
When is Onam 2025 and how is it celebrated in Kerala and around the world?
For 10 days later this month, Onam celebrations will take place across the South Indian state of Kerala and among Malayali communities around the world. The important Keralite harvest festival falls in the Malayalam calendar month of Chingam, which corresponds to August or September in the Gregorian calendar. This year, it will be celebrated from August 26 to September 5. Although it is a Hindu festival, it has taken on such cultural significance that people of all religions in Kerala now celebrate it to some extent. History of Onam The festival celebrates king Mahabali's return from the underworld. The mythological king was considered a great ruler; legend has it that when he ruled, there was no discrimination based on caste, and no corruption or crime. It is said that the great king was later sent to the underworld by lord Vishnu or Vamana, but was allowed to visit his people once a year, and Onam thus came about. The Kerala government made it an official holiday in the 1960s. The area in Kochi called Thrikkakkara is particularly significant during the festival, because of its temple. There are public holidays in Kerala every year for the festival, with families spending time together and many people getting up early to pray. The harvest festival of Onam is not to be confused with Vishu, which was in April this year, and marks the Malayali New Year. What is Onam sadhya? One of the highlights of the festival for many is the Onam sadhya or feast. Vegetarian food is often served en masse in the community, in restaurants or at homes, and is always presented on a banana leaf. The most important feast is served on Thiru Onam, the key date of the festival, which this year is on September 5. Nine to 30 dishes can be served, including curries, dal, pickles, poppadoms, banana chips and more. This particular kind of feast is generally only served during weddings or Onam, and so is cherished by all at this time of year. Pazhamkootan, a stew made from leftovers of the Onam sadhya, is another popular dish in Malayali households. The performances and events There are many different performances and events as part of the Onam celebrations. One major event is the snake boat race. The vessels are similar to dragon boats and are the region's traditional war boats that date back about 500 years. Another important event is the Kummati Kali dance through the streets, particularly in the Thrissur district. The dancers wear colourful masks and cover their bodies in grass. Theyyam performers – considered to be direct lines to the gods – are also commonly seen during the festival and often perform at temples. On the fourth day of Onam, performers dressed as tigers and hunters entertain people with their colourful costumes, dancing along to drums and emulating the hunt. It is believed that the Maharaja of Cochin introduced the tiger dance as an Onam tradition about 200 years ago and that he appreciated the macho spirit of the event. The flowers and the clothes Much like during Diwali, people place flower arrangements called pookkalam around their community and outside their homes. They are considered auspicious and are placed to welcome king Mahabali. Women wear a kasavu two-piece set, or a sari, during Onam, which is cream-coloured with a gold border. They also wear flowers in their hair. Meanwhile, men wear the traditional mundu wrapped around their waist. Other traditions There are lots of colourful variations of traditions and dances during this time of year. Many people buy new clothes to wear during the holidays and, just like during Diwali, lamps are lit during this time. After Onam, the pookkalam flower arrangements are often placed in nearby rivers or bodies of water.
Malay Mail
30-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Malay Mail
Kaamatan: More than drinking and merrymaking, Sabah's iconic harvest festival celebrates cultural identity and community bonding
KOTA KINABALU, May 31 — Every year in May, the unmistakable sounds of the kulintangan and gongs echo across villages and hotspots in Sabah, signalling the month-long Kaamatan or harvest festival, arguably Sabah's most iconic festival. Held annually throughout May, culminating in the state-level celebration on May 30 and 31, Kaamatan has always held a special place in the hearts of Sabahans, especially the Kadazandusun, Murut, Rungus and other land-dwelling indigenous communities across Sabah. Although it recently had a reputation as a massive local drinking festival, Kaamatan is a deeply rooted cultural celebration of identity, history and communal harmony. Celebrated as a thanksgiving, it is essentially a time for gratitude, community and cultural preservation, evident not just in the long list of events and programmes organised by the state, but also in the family homecomings across the state. 'Kaamatan is not just about the rice harvest. It is about honouring our ancestors, our culture and our relationship with the land,' said Sabah deputy chief minister and Kaamatan main organising committee chairman Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan. Deputy Chief Minister and Kaamatan main organising committee chairman Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan highlights the festival's deep cultural significance, emphasising its role in honouring ancestors, preserving traditions, and strengthening the community's bond with the land. Rooted in sacrifice and thanksgiving At its spiritual core, Kaamatan commemorates the legend of Huminodun, the only daughter of the God Kinoingan and his wife Suminodun, Huminodun sacrificed herself to save the people during a time of famine when no rice or crops would grow. According to folklore, Huminodun's flesh and blood became rice, her head became coconuts, her fingers bananas, her teeth and hair became maize, her toes ginger, her skeleton sugar canes, her heart and intestines fruits of all types, her ears turned all types of vegetables and her soul became the rice spirit Bambarayon, which resides in rice stalks. That year, the harvest was the most plentiful so far and marked the beginning of Kaamatan to pay thanks to the rice gods and the Bambarayon spirit for the bountiful harvest but pay homage to the native beliefs, customary rules and traditions, and observances of the multi-ethnic Kadazandusuns. A significant aspect of the myth includes Huminodun's instruction that, before starting the harvest, Kinoingan should take seven stalks of paddy, tie them to one end of a spliced bamboo stick, plant them at the centre of the field, and then store them in the rice container after the harvest. These seven stalks of paddy symbolise the spirit of rice. To the Kadazandusuns, who are dependent on rice, to honour Huminodun's sacrifice was to honour the Bambarayon. Every year, during the Kaamatan festival, the 'Magavau ceremony' — a spiritual cleansing and renewal ceremony to call back the wandering rice spirit spread across the grains of rice — is performed by the elders and high priestesses (bobolian). This folklore has been passed down through generations and although such beliefs may have gotten lost or misinterpreted over time, one tribute that has remained and thrives is the Unduk Ngadau or harvest festival queen, to find a maiden from Sabah's many districts who possess similar beauty and character to that of Huminodun. The contestants usually have to be of Sabahan native descent and have fluent language skills and knowledge of the culture. The crowning of the Unduk Ngadau is among the highlights of the Kaamatan festival. A celebration for all Although celebrated at every district level, for many Sabahans the Kadazandusun Cultural Association building also known as Hongkod, is the Kaamatan icon. For two weeks every year, they play host to the state-wide Kaamatan celebration, drawing people from all walks of life — regardless of ethnicity or religion. The event culminates during the last two days of the month, turning into the centre of cultural celebrations. Aside from the crowning of the Unduk Ngadau, there is a singing competition (Sugandoi), traditional games such as arm wrestling (mipulos), tug-of-war (migazat dukug), buffalo trapping (monungkava kalabau), stilt walking (ram-panau), giant slipper (sipatu tompulanggoi), blowpipe shooting (monopuk), slingshot shooting (momolisitik), paddy carrying (mamagandal), rice pounding (tumutu), fire starting (mobpiri/mangapui) and spearing (manandus). Visitors can explore some 14 traditional houses from the various ethnic groups in the cultural village with their 'open house' concept, each showcasing their own costume, dance or music, as well as sample various foods and local brews. The Murut house — which features the lansaran, a trampoline made from bamboo — is always a crowd favourite. Within the cultural village, organiser Datuk Joseph Lantip said only local Sabahan products would be available for sale or showcased, like local brews, food, handicraft and others. Also, on the grounds of the KDCA is a lively festival with huge tent setups for mini concerts and entertainment. Many take to the tents to gather with friends and start merry-making early in the day to late night. For some, this is one of the highlights of the festival, an event and place to meet old friends and make new ones and bask in the Kaamatan vibe. A platform for unity among Sabahans Kaamatan is also seen as a time for reconciliation and unity. For a state as diverse as Sabah, it is a time when all races and ethnicities, ages and backgrounds can come together without care for their differences. It is common for Malay food stalls to be set up in between the beer tents and Muslims wearing the iconic Kadazan black velvet and gold trimmed costumes to cheer for their district's Unduk Ngadau representative. Entrepreneurs selling traditional food and clothing say Kaamatan is one of the best times for business, with high demand from diverse customers. Even cafes and restaurants have come up with Kaamatan promotions, offering local fares and new concoctions featuring Sabah's indigenous cuisine and ingredients. 'Kaamatan is not merely a nostalgic commemoration but a living tradition that adapts to contemporary realities. Young people, including those raised in urban areas, are increasingly participating in Kaamatan by learning traditional dances, speaking their mother tongues and taking part in cultural events,' said Richard Gontusan, a judge for the Unduk Ngadau Kepayan division. However, this year's celebration is slightly unique, as it comes at a time when the state gears up for its 17th state election, the event plays a role in bringing together not just its thirty or so indigenous groups but also its aspirations to the leaders. Beyond celebrating culture and identity, Kaamatan also provides a platform for local leaders to engage with communities — though they must navigate this carefully to avoid politicisation.
Malay Mail
30-05-2025
- General
- Malay Mail
Anwar says Kaamatan and Gawai reflect Malaysia's unique heritage and unity
KUALA LUMPUR, May 30 — The celebration of the Kaamatan and Gawai Festivals are not merely harvest festivals, but instead reflects a part of Malaysia's diverse and unique heritage and culture, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. He stated that the celebrations, observed by communities in Sabah and Sarawak in a spirit of gratitude and consensus, also showcase a noble and MADANI aspect of humanity, which must continue to be highlighted as well as strengthen the spirit of pluralism that symbolizes unity. 'These celebrations, among other things, serve as a reflection of harmony, peaceful coexistence, and a symbolic expression of gratitude to nature and its bounty. 'Let us collectively strengthen our resolve and continue to work towards ensuring that Sabah and Sarawak continue to receive equitable development, both in terms of infrastructure development, education, and health, so that the well-being of the people and future generations remain assured,' he said via a Facebook post today. The Prime Minister also extended his greetings of Kotobian Tadau Tagazo Do Kaamatan and Gayu Guru Gerai Nyamai to all communities in Sabah and Sarawak. — Bernama
