HARVEST FESTIVAL

HARVEST FESTIVAL

Harvest festival is a festival celebrated by the Kadazan-Dusun in Sabah after the harvest to adore the spirit of paddy. The festival is celebrated on 30 and 31 May each year and has been recognized as an official holiday in the state.

Usually, in celebrating the harvest festival, several events will be held as Magavau (rice spirit), dancing, beauty pageants, sports and exhibition of traditional goods tribal handicrafts in the state. On that day also, rice wine called 'Kinomoi' will be served free of charge to people who traveled celebrate this harvest festival. This harvest festival will begin with a ceremony usually Magavau. A female shaman called 'Bobolian' will lead the ceremony performed when the sun set, a day before the celebration of the harvest festival begins. 'Bobolian' will read incantation called 'Momurinait' in a special room.

In this room lies 'Bambaazon' or 'bambarayon', the rice spirit. Line of men and women will dance and sing until dawn in this ceremony. According to the story, part of her body into rice (Parai). While other members of his body into plants. When the rice and food plants are created, then God created man orchard land became the ancestor of the Kadazan-Dusun.

Kadazan-Dusun community believe rice is sacred. This is so because it contains some parts of the daughter of God happened Dusun rice spirit. Rice spirit symbolized by the seven rice stalks removed, tied up, and kept a special place.

In general, local communities see the rice spirit ritual as a token of gratitude, and there is a good relationship between man and nature.

Additionally, rituals can also create a sense of unity and mutual assistance in the Kadazan-Dusun. On this day, the rice spirit ritual quite rare, especially after some of the Kadazan-Dusun embrace Islam and Christianity.

Nevertheless, there remains of people who still practice the tradition and practice of fighting for their lives. The state of the whole society, the Harvest Festival be a festival together to create a spirit of goodwill and unity in the community.