Sabah's Kaamatan or Harvest Festival

Sabah is set to embark on a month-long celebration with the launching of the statewide Kaamatan or Harvest Festival in May.

The festival for the thanksgiving of a bountiful rice harvest is to be launched by Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman in the interior Ranau district at the foothills of Mount Kinabalu on May 1.

The festivities will get underway with the magavau or thanksgiving ceremony conducted by the bobohizan or the traditional Kadazandusun priests or priestesses.

This is to be followed by a series of traditional dances such as the sumazau of Kdazandusun, mongigol of the Rungus and igal igal of the Bajau and Suluks, showcasing Sabah’s diverse ethnic communities

Diverse: Sabah’s ethnic culture will be showcased at Sabah Fest 2007 on May 3 and 4 in Kota Kinabalu.

A similar colourful display of Sabah’s traditional ethnic cultures will get underway with the launching of the annual Sabah Fest 2007 on May 3 and 4 at Sutera Harbour Resort in Kota Kinabalu

“Visitors to Sabah Fest will be feasted with the largest cultural presentation of the diverse ethnic groups of Sabah under one roof, and is a meaningful event to experience for both international and domestic visitors” said Sitti Bahaya Damsal, the general manager of Sri Pelancongan Sabah Sdn Bhd.

She added: “This year, in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2007, the event will be held over two days, giving visitors the opportunity to experience Sabah’s rich and unique cultural heritage presented by more than 500 dancers, musicians and skilled handicraft makers.”

In conjunction with this cultural spectacle, more than 30 exhibition and demonstration booths on handicraft, food and spas will be open to the public from 10am to 10pm, whilst the evening cultural shows will begin at 8pm on both evenings of May 3 and 4.

This event is brought to the public by Sabah Tourism Board and is organised by Sri Pelancongan Sabah, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sabah Tourism Board.

For ticket bookings and more information, call Susan Shahira of Sri Pelancongan Sabah at 088 - 232121.

Tickets for the cultural show are sold at RM20 and are available at tourist information counters.

Source : STAR
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