May 31, 2020

Tuak : The Iban Rice Wine

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Photo by Chang Kai.

Tuak is rice wine made by the Ibans, predominantly, for ceremonial and festive purposes. The miring or offering ritual must have tuak.

The Gawai is celebrated in many different ways, from a simple dinner to a huge gathering of thousands of warriors and very important people in a huge ground.

Rice wine would be made a month or longer before the Gawai on 1st June each year in Sarawak.

The first Gawai was only celebrated in 1962.

Gawai in the Iban language originally referred to as a harvest thanksgiving ritual. It is not for the passing of an old year and welcoming of the new year. Hence the making of rice wine is befitting as part of the harvest festival - what better way than to enjoy a wine made from the freshest of harvested rice?

The Iban wish for Gawai is : Selamat ari Gawai, gayu guru, gerai nyamai.. Happy Festival Day, wishing you bountiful harvest and good health....

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