St Mark Sandakan hosts KAWAI 2018

SANDAKAN – St Mark here hosted the Sandakan parish-level Kaamatan-Gawai (KAWAI) Festival on 9-10 June 2018.

Kaamatan is a Kadazan-Dusun term for “harvest” and is celebrated for the whole month of May. It is normally celebrated by the ethnic Kadazan-Dusuns, as well as by other related ethnic groups in the state.

While Gawai Dayak is an annual festival celebrated in Sarawak on June 1  by many different ethnic groups such as Iban, Bidayuh, Kenyah, Kelabit, and Murut.

The occasion was marked by traditional games on June 9 while the highlight was the Mass presided by Father David Garaman, concelebrated with Father Phillip Muji the next day.

In his homily, the priest stressed on Christ as the unifying factor in various cultures.

After Mass all adjourned to the open hall for fellowship and entertainment programme such as stage performances, lucky draws, and a children’s traditional attire fashion show. – Fennexlee Edesius Mejeh, Sandakan Diocesan Blog