Gawai Batu or the Iban Whetstone Festival is one of the most important Iban festivals, celebrated mainly by longhouse farming people.
It takes place before the clearing period, i.e. before July usually.
A whetstone is a stone used for sharpening knives and is blessed during this festival. The whetstone after being blessed is considered holy and must be kept safe by the farmer until the farming session is over. It cannot be borrowed or disturbed by anyone. It is kept in the SADAU or attic of the family unit.
The GAwai Batu at Rumah Aling recently is a Christianized ritual, to bless the farmers in the RC way.
Each farming family prepared their "farming items" for blessing.
During the ceremony many women cried because they reflected on their farming history and remembered their beloved family members who had passed on.
According to one elder in the longhouse the Gawai BAtu also reminded them to remember the blessings which came from their ancestors.
The following stages of the Gawai Batu is taken from Benedict Sandin's article :
It takes place before the clearing period, i.e. before July usually.
A whetstone is a stone used for sharpening knives and is blessed during this festival. The whetstone after being blessed is considered holy and must be kept safe by the farmer until the farming session is over. It cannot be borrowed or disturbed by anyone. It is kept in the SADAU or attic of the family unit.
The GAwai Batu at Rumah Aling recently is a Christianized ritual, to bless the farmers in the RC way.
Each farming family prepared their "farming items" for blessing.
During the ceremony many women cried because they reflected on their farming history and remembered their beloved family members who had passed on.
According to one elder in the longhouse the Gawai BAtu also reminded them to remember the blessings which came from their ancestors.
The following stages of the Gawai Batu is taken from Benedict Sandin's article :
Summary of the Stages in Gawai Batu :
1. Baum Begawai: Preliminary Meeting
2. Ngambi Ngabang: Invitations
3. Ngenselan Menoa: Land Purification
4. Beranchau: Readiness in long – house
5. Mupu Ka Antu Rua: Offering to the spirit of extra-vagance
6. Ngalu Batu: Welcoming the whetstone
7. Meri Batu Mandi Enggau Ngeminyak Batu: Washing and oiling of whetstone
8. Malam Mantar: The eve of the feast
9. Niri Ka Pandong Batu: Platform for whetstone
10. Ngerandang Jalai: A ritual dance to clear a path free of spirits
11. Belaboh Nimang Pantar: Song to bless the feast
12. Ngelulun Asi: Roasting glutinous rice
13. Sabong Gawai: Cockfight
14. Gawai Nyadi: Feast proper begins
15. Nyugu Babi: preliminary combing of pig’s hair
16. Bedijir: Seating accommodation
17. Ngeradang Jalai: A ritual dance to clear a path free of spirits (Second time)
18. Ngelalau: A dance to improve the path already cleared
19. Ngalu Petara: Welcoming God an d the Spirits
20. Makai Tengah Malam: Midnight feast
21. Ngerandang Jalai Umai: Clearing of paths leading to the farms
22. Makai Dini Hari: Meal at an early hour
23. Dudok Mangkang Pandong Batu: Seating arrangement of elders near the platform of holy whetstone
24. Ngalu Sempulang Gana: To welcome Sempulang Gana
25. Nyugu Babi: Combing of pig’s hair (Second time)
26. Nenjang Indu: To sing a song of praise to the women
27. Sempulang Gana Nganjong Batu Ka Umai: Sempulang Gana sends the holy whetstone spiritually to the farm lands.
28. Mulai Ka Samengat Antu: To send away the spirits again
29. Mulai Ka Samengat Lemambang: To send away the souls of the singers to their own houses
30. Nganjong Batu Ka Umai: Whetstones are taken by the farmers to the farm (the final and “secular” act).
1. Baum Begawai: Preliminary Meeting
2. Ngambi Ngabang: Invitations
3. Ngenselan Menoa: Land Purification
4. Beranchau: Readiness in long – house
5. Mupu Ka Antu Rua: Offering to the spirit of extra-vagance
6. Ngalu Batu: Welcoming the whetstone
7. Meri Batu Mandi Enggau Ngeminyak Batu: Washing and oiling of whetstone
8. Malam Mantar: The eve of the feast
9. Niri Ka Pandong Batu: Platform for whetstone
10. Ngerandang Jalai: A ritual dance to clear a path free of spirits
11. Belaboh Nimang Pantar: Song to bless the feast
12. Ngelulun Asi: Roasting glutinous rice
13. Sabong Gawai: Cockfight
14. Gawai Nyadi: Feast proper begins
15. Nyugu Babi: preliminary combing of pig’s hair
16. Bedijir: Seating accommodation
17. Ngeradang Jalai: A ritual dance to clear a path free of spirits (Second time)
18. Ngelalau: A dance to improve the path already cleared
19. Ngalu Petara: Welcoming God an d the Spirits
20. Makai Tengah Malam: Midnight feast
21. Ngerandang Jalai Umai: Clearing of paths leading to the farms
22. Makai Dini Hari: Meal at an early hour
23. Dudok Mangkang Pandong Batu: Seating arrangement of elders near the platform of holy whetstone
24. Ngalu Sempulang Gana: To welcome Sempulang Gana
25. Nyugu Babi: Combing of pig’s hair (Second time)
26. Nenjang Indu: To sing a song of praise to the women
27. Sempulang Gana Nganjong Batu Ka Umai: Sempulang Gana sends the holy whetstone spiritually to the farm lands.
28. Mulai Ka Samengat Antu: To send away the spirits again
29. Mulai Ka Samengat Lemambang: To send away the souls of the singers to their own houses
30. Nganjong Batu Ka Umai: Whetstones are taken by the farmers to the farm (the final and “secular” act).
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