MANY Kadazandusun Murut are opting out of ‘aramaiti’ or any sort of merry making at this year’s Harvest Festival (Pesta Kaamatan), choosing to adapt to the new normal instead.
The festival is undeniably the most important celebration for the KDM community and is annually celebrated statewide during May and culminates on May 30 and 31 at the Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association (KDCA) premises.
Usually, hundreds of stalls selling food and drinks and a variety of items would start popping up at KDCA as early as May 1.
Crowds enjoy the food, booze, music, karaoke, or everything, while others look forward to the grand Kaamatan programmes like the Sugandoi (singing) and Unduk Ngadau (beauty pageant) competitions.
However, all of these Kaamatan programmes are cancelled this year as part of the effort to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the state. – June 2, 2020.
A mannequin in traditional Kadazan costume on display at the Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association in Penampang, Sabah. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, June 2, 2020.
A man passing an empty stage usually used for Kaamatan performances at the Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association in Penampang, Sabah. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, June 2, 2020.A portrait of the bobolian (ritual specialist) of Bundu Liwan displayed at a Dusun traditional house at the Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association in Penampang, Sabah. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, June 2, 2020.Stalls selling food and drinks and a variety of items are missing this year from the Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association in Penampang, Sabah. - The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, June 2, 2020.Stalls selling food and drinks and a variety of items are missing this year from the Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association in Penampang, Sabah. - The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, June 2, 2020.A hush descends on the village as cultural and traditional houses are closed this year. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, June 2, 2020.Obeying the conditional movement-control order, most venues are closed, leaving the cultural village quiet and deserted unlike previous years. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, June 2, 2020.A notice posted at the main stage at the Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association in Penampang, Sabah. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, June 2, 2020.Most of the Kadazan Dusun Murut people are opting out of ‘aramaiti’ or any sort of merry making at this year’s Harvest Festival (Pesta Kaamatan), choosing instead to adapt to the new normal foisted by the coronavirus pandemic. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, June 2, 2020.Reetasha Joanes Mijol checking the temperature of family members before gathering to minimise the risk of Covid-19 transmission in Kg Kolopis, Penampang, Sabah. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, June 2, 2020.A family celebrating Kaamatan at home with relatives to minimise the risk of Covid-19 transmission in Kg Kolopis, Penampang, Sabah. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, June 2, 2020.
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