There are many races in Bintulu for example
Chinese, Malay, Hindu and the natives such as Iban,
Bidayuh, Melanau, Kayan, etc. As such, there are many
festivals celebrated in Bintulu.
For the Chinese, we celebrate the Chinese New Year at
the first day of the New Year in Chinese Calendar.
Chinese New Year is celebrate for
15 days and end with the Chap Goh May.
For the Malays they celebrate Awal Muharam the
Islam's New Year at the very first day of the New Year
of Malay Calendar.
Then, there is also the Hari Raya
celebrations, another major festival for the Muslims.
The festival is celebrated for one month. One month
before the New Year, the Malays have to fast (Puasa).
While in the fasting month, Ramadan, no food can pass
their throats from the crack of dawn until the sunsets.
As such, each time zone has a different schedule for
its fasting times. Usually, it is from (just an
assumption) 6am to 6pm. It is illegal to eat or drink
during the fasting periods. In this way, the Muslims get
to experience and be aware of the pain, suffering and
hunger of those who are not well off so that they will
not mistreat them.
The Hari Gawai is the festival celebrated by
the Iban community. It falls on the 1st day of June
every year. They celebrate Hari Gawai to give thanks to
the God of Paddy .
They usually perform the traditional dance -
Ngajat at the celebration. In the past, the Ibans
usually lived in the long houses, which consist up to
100 families.
However, the Ibans no
longer stay in the longhouses. Most of them have since
"migrated" from the jungle to live in town. So the
celebrations of Hari Gawai now is not like the past. The
Ibans are a friendly race. They will welcome all
visitors to their houses even if they don't know you.
