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Battle of the Band : 1 Mac 09 ( 7.30pagi – 5.00ptg) ,Dewan Ibu Pejabat DBNA, Kuching        Bidayuh Idol & Juara Lagu Bidayuh : 8/3/09 (7.30pagi – 5.00ptg ),Dewan Ibu Pejabat DBNA, Kuching        Badminton : 7-8/3/09 ( 9.00pagi – 5.00ptg ),Arena Sukan Sport Centre, Simpang Tiga        Futsal : 9/3/09 (9.00pagi – 5.00ptg ),Arena Sukan Sport Centre, Simpang Tiga        Pertandingan ‘Dayung Timungun’ : 14/3/09 (8.00pagi – 12.00t/hari),Dewan Ibu Pejabat DBNA, Kuching        Bidayuh Cultural Seminar : 14/3/09 (8.00pagi – 5.00ptg ),Dewan Suarah Kuching        Majlis Makan Malam Komuniti :14/3/09 (7.00mlm),Perkarangan Ibu Pejabat DBNA, Kuching        Pameran : 20-22/3/09 ( 9.00pagi – 10.00mlm ),Stadium Mini, Serian        Perarakan Kaum Etnik dan Pelancaran Rasmi Pesta Berumuh 2009 :21/3/09 (7.30pagi – 2.00ptg),Stadium Mini, Serian        Malam Muzik dan Kebudayaan :20-22/3/09 (7.30mlm – 12.00t/mlm),Stadium Mini, Serian / Dewam Masyarakat Serian        Pertandingan dan Persembahan Sukan Tradisional :21/3/09 (8.00pagi – 4.00ptg),Stadium Mini, Serian        Pertandingan dan Persembahan Sukan Moden :21/3/09 (8.00pagi – 4.00ptg),Stadium Mini, Serian/Tasik Danu        Pertandingan Mewarna & Kuiz Warisan Bidayuh :22/3/09 ( 8.30pagi – 12.30 tghari ),Persekitaran Tasik Danu Dewan Masyarakat Serian        Persembahan Gawai Birumuh :20/3/09 (2ptg) 21/3/09 (9.00pagi) 22/3/09 (11pagi),Mini Stadium Serian
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Pesta Birumuh Concept

" From the paddy field to the knowledge farm "

Rice and the Bidayuh

In Bidayuh, umuh means rice farms, and berumuh means rice farming. Pesta Birumuh is a cultural festival to celebrate the Bidayuh rice farming tradition.

Like all Asian communities, rice is the staple food for the Bidayuh. In the traditional Bidayuh society, rice had an even greater significance beyond being just food. The Bidayuh forefathers “worshipped” rice. Rice had a spirit or a soul that had to be respected. Rice was not to be wasted, not even a grain. Any act of wastefulness would offend the rice spirit and could severely affect the next rice harvest. Rice was a sign of wealth. A person’s wealth would be described by the amount of rice stock he has. A person’s fortune or livelihood was, and still is, described as his “pot of rice”.

During the gawai sowa’, the rice harvest festival which is the main annual festival of the community, blessings from the gods to the village were received in the form of rice grains. The high priests would receive the grains from the ayak podi, literally, the rice shower or rice conduit which is two pieces of 15 to 20 feet long sail-like piece of cloth hung up over the bawal or the altar. The rice grains received symbolized good harvests for the following rice season.

The traditional Bidayuh society was cashless, and rice was a currency for trading. The worth of livestock and produce was expressed as an amount or measure of rice. Even in the early part of the 20th century, money was scarce in the villages, and rice continued to be used as an exchange medium. Rice was also the main commodity for barter trading with people from other communities.

Next >>Rice farming



  


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DAYAK BIDAYUH NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (DBNA)
Lot 964, Block 10, Jalan Ong Tiang Swee P.O. Box 614, 93712 Kuching, Sarawak
Tel: 082-410324, Fax: 082-256163