Ethnic culture preserved
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
ETHNIC Dusuns in Brunei Darussalam observe Adau Gayoh, or big day, during the first May of every year, to mark the end of the paddy harvesting season.
It is not just to celebrate the hard work and happiness of farmers at the end of the harvest, but what is important is to be thankful for the production of the good harvest, said Newas Ukoi, president of Pakatan Sang Jati Dusun.
This is because the event of celebrating back in the old days can no longer take place in our current situation, hence the importance of preserving a traditional culture that is genuine and noble, he said.
During the Adau Gayoh celebration at Tutong, he said that the Pakatan Sang Jati Dusun Association organised yesterday's celebration to sustain the traditional culture of the Dusun community as well as strengthen unity among the community.
"We believe that the celebration for this year is suitable with the theme of Budaya Menjulang Bangsa, this culture will project our identity as a civilised community," he said.
Ukoi told The Brunei Times in an interview that Budaya Menjulang Bangsa can be explained by strengthening the community through cultural activities.
He said the Dusun community in Brunei celebrates the Adau Gayoh festival by having 'open houses' throughout the month, whereby relatives and friends visit residences and they are served with food and drinks.
It is also during this day that music is played with its original rhythm through traditional instruments such as gong, canang and gulingtangan.
In the old days, villagers would go out to jungles to gather rattan, palm shoots and other materials to build puun, a tray that symbolises the Adau Gayoh Sang Jati Dusun.
This symbol shows the unity of families involved in working together and the willingness to send various types of delicacies placed in the puun.
Pakatan Sang Jati Dusun, the organiser of the Adau Gayoh celebration yesterday, was established in 1958 to promote the welfare of the Dusun community.
The Brunei Times
It is not just to celebrate the hard work and happiness of farmers at the end of the harvest, but what is important is to be thankful for the production of the good harvest, said Newas Ukoi, president of Pakatan Sang Jati Dusun.
This is because the event of celebrating back in the old days can no longer take place in our current situation, hence the importance of preserving a traditional culture that is genuine and noble, he said.
During the Adau Gayoh celebration at Tutong, he said that the Pakatan Sang Jati Dusun Association organised yesterday's celebration to sustain the traditional culture of the Dusun community as well as strengthen unity among the community.
"We believe that the celebration for this year is suitable with the theme of Budaya Menjulang Bangsa, this culture will project our identity as a civilised community," he said.
Ukoi told The Brunei Times in an interview that Budaya Menjulang Bangsa can be explained by strengthening the community through cultural activities.
He said the Dusun community in Brunei celebrates the Adau Gayoh festival by having 'open houses' throughout the month, whereby relatives and friends visit residences and they are served with food and drinks.
It is also during this day that music is played with its original rhythm through traditional instruments such as gong, canang and gulingtangan.
In the old days, villagers would go out to jungles to gather rattan, palm shoots and other materials to build puun, a tray that symbolises the Adau Gayoh Sang Jati Dusun.
This symbol shows the unity of families involved in working together and the willingness to send various types of delicacies placed in the puun.
Pakatan Sang Jati Dusun, the organiser of the Adau Gayoh celebration yesterday, was established in 1958 to promote the welfare of the Dusun community.
The Brunei Times
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